U.S. Cotton, LLC 401(k) Review & Grade
U.S. Cotton, LLC Retirement Savings Plan
Gastonia, NCManufacturing947 active participantsPlan year 2024
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$922Employer $ per active participant
$1,788Employee $ saved per active participant
0.23%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$34.0MNet plan assets, end of year
–Average balance per account (account count looks misreported)
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity7.5 / 5015th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost12.5 / 2550th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving1.4 / 159th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features3 / 10Default investment
- Red-flag deductions-10 pts1 issue reported on the filing
Total score14 / 100 · Grade F
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Manufacturing plans with 500–2,499 active participants (2,376 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 15th |
| Lower admin cost | 50th |
| Employee saving | 9th |
| Peers that auto-enroll | 59% |
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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 ($432,786 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
- U.S. Cotton put in about $922 per active participant, below the typical peer ($2,320). Any match is still an instant return, so contribute enough to get all of it.
- 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.
- Fund expense ratios aren't in the filing. Look them up in your 404(a)(5) fee disclosure and favor low-cost index or target-date funds.
- 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 | $873,512 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $1,693,455 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $187,278 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $75,953 |
| Investment advisory & management fees | $40,645 |
| Benefits paid out | $4,959,025 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $32.6M / $34.0M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 939 / 955 |
| Participants with account balances | 463 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Not reported |
| Auditor | Arrowood & Associates, PA |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Empower Annuity Insurance Company O | $35,308 reported compensation |
| Cbiz Investment Advisory Services L | $26,059 reported compensation |
| Empower Advisory Group, LLC | $14,586 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20251010074454NAL0007764449001, received 2025-10-10, EIN 85-0437023, plan #010, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.