TMS International Corporation 401(k) Review & Grade
TMS International Corporation Hourly Employees 401(k) and Retirement Plan
Pittsburgh, PAAdministrative, Support & Staffing Services1,816 active participantsPlan year 2024
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$1,855Employer $ per active participant
$1,966Employee $ saved per active participant
0.39%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$36.9MNet plan assets, end of year
$16,923Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity38.6 / 5077th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost7.9 / 2532th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving7.8 / 1552th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features3 / 10Default investment
- Red-flag deductions-10 pts1 issue reported on the filing
Total score47 / 100 · Grade C
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Administrative, Support & Staffing Services plans with 500–2,499 active participants (401 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 77th |
| Lower admin cost | 32th |
| Employee saving | 52th |
| Peers that auto-enroll | 27% |
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Red flags from the filing
Late deposits: the filing says some employee contributions were not sent to the plan on time ($294 reported). That's money taken from paychecks that sat with the employer longer than the law allows.
What to do if you're in this plan
- TMS International put in about $1,855 per active participant, more than the typical peer ($712). Contribute at least enough to collect the full match. Skipping it leaves part of your pay on the table.
- The filing shows total dollars, not the match formula. Ask HR for the Summary Plan Description so you know the exact match and vesting schedule.
- Direct plan expenses (0.39% of assets) are well above similar-size plans (0.23%). Check your annual fee disclosure, choose low-cost index funds if you can, and think about whether savings beyond the match belong in an IRA.
- The plan reported late deposits of employee contributions. Compare your pay stubs with your account statements, and contact the plan administrator if money shows up late.
- Changing jobs? You can usually leave the money in the plan, move it to your new employer's plan, or roll it into an IRA. Don't cash out: you'd owe taxes and possibly a 10% penalty.
The raw numbers from the filing
| Employer contributions | $3,367,280 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $3,568,953 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $65,276 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $134,713 |
| Other admin expenses | $134,713 |
| Benefits paid out | $6,909,492 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $33.1M / $36.9M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 1,842 / 1,789 |
| Participants with account balances | 2,182 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Not reported |
| Auditor | Schneider Downs & Co., Inc. |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| The Vanguard Group, Inc. | $150,709 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20251015160631NAL0002722051001, received 2025-10-15, EIN 34-0617390, plan #103, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.