Usr Parent Inc. 401(k) Review & Grade
Staples US Retail 401(k) Retirement Plan
Framingham, MARetail Trade11,146 active participantsPlan year 2024✓ Auto-enroll
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$548Employer $ per active participant
$1,660Employee $ saved per active participant
0.13%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$404.6MNet plan assets, end of year
$54,470Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity20.3 / 5041th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost8.4 / 2533th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving7.6 / 1550th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features10 / 10Auto-enrollment, Default investment
- Red-flag deductions-13 pts2 issues reported on the filing
Total score33 / 100 · Grade D
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Retail Trade plans with 10,000+ active participants (124 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 41th |
| Lower admin cost | 33th |
| Employee saving | 50th |
| Peers that auto-enroll | 32% |
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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 ($1,601 reported). That's money taken from paychecks that sat with the employer longer than the law allows.
Corrective distributions: the plan refunded $23,228 in contributions, which usually means it failed annual nondiscrimination testing.
What to do if you're in this plan
- Usr Parent put in about $548 per active participant, below the typical peer ($689). 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 (0.13% of assets) are well above similar-size plans (0.09%). 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 | $6,103,927 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $18,499,870 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $1,591,508 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $513,881 |
| Investment advisory & management fees | $50,000 |
| Other admin expenses | $900 |
| Benefits paid out | $50,456,624 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $376.1M / $404.6M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 11,368 / 10,925 |
| Participants with account balances | 7,428 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Yes |
| Auditor | Ernst & Young, LLP |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Empower Annuity Insurance Company O | $510,886 reported compensation |
| Ubs Financial Services Inc | $50,000 reported compensation |
| Qdro Consultants Company, LLC | $900 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20251015141713NAL0006390768001, received 2025-10-15, EIN 82-1997669, plan #001, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.