U.S. Lumber Group LLC 401(k) Review & Grade
U.S. Lumber Group, LLC 401(k) Plan
Duluth, GAWholesale Trade3,938 active participantsPlan year 2024✓ Auto-enroll
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$1,681Employer $ per active participant
$5,119Employee $ saved per active participant
0.26%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$214.0MNet plan assets, end of year
$52,253Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity16.7 / 5033th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost6.8 / 2527th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving6.6 / 1544th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features10 / 10Auto-enrollment, Default investment
- Red-flag deductions-13 pts2 issues reported on the filing
Total score27 / 100 · Grade F
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Wholesale Trade plans with 2,500–9,999 active participants (103 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 33th |
| Lower admin cost | 27th |
| Employee saving | 44th |
| Peers that auto-enroll | 62% |
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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 ($23,443 reported). That's money taken from paychecks that sat with the employer longer than the law allows.
Corrective distributions: the plan refunded $534,179 in contributions, which usually means it failed annual nondiscrimination testing.
What to do if you're in this plan
- U.S. Lumber Group put in about $1,681 per active participant, below the typical peer ($2,459). 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.
- Direct plan expenses (0.26% of assets) are well above similar-size plans (0.12%). 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 auto-enrolls employees. Check your default contribution rate. Defaults are often lower than what it takes to get the full match.
- 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 | $6,618,831 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $20,160,728 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $2,745,674 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $505,611 |
| Contract administrator fees | $433,196 |
| Investment advisory & management fees | $72,415 |
| Benefits paid out | $16,962,130 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $178.4M / $214.0M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 3,951 / 3,926 |
| Participants with account balances | 4,095 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Yes |
| Auditor | Cliftonlarsonallen LLP |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Principal Life Insurance Company | $433,196 reported compensation |
| Rpa Financial, LLC | $72,415 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20250820121016NAL0003258625001, received 2025-08-20, EIN 27-4877902, plan #001, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.