W. E. Aubuchon Co., Inc. 401(k) Review & Grade
W. E. Aubuchon Co., Inc. 401(k) Retirement Plan
Westminster, MARetail Trade1,656 active participantsPlan year 2024
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$789Employer $ per active participant
$2,053Employee $ saved per active participant
0.23%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$58.1MNet plan assets, end of year
$27,647Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity26.1 / 5052th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost12.4 / 2550th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving5.2 / 1534th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features3 / 10Default investment
- Red-flag deductions-10 pts1 issue reported on the filing
Total score37 / 100 · Grade D
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Retail Trade plans with 500–2,499 active participants (719 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 52th |
| Lower admin cost | 50th |
| Employee saving | 34th |
| Peers that auto-enroll | 48% |
Get the monthly 401(k) report card
The best and worst plans, new grades as filings post. One email a month, no spam.
Red flags from the filing
Late deposits: the filing says some employee contributions were not sent to the plan on time ($296 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
- W. E. Aubuchon Co. put in about $789 per active participant, more than the typical peer ($743). 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.
- 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 | $1,306,353 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $3,399,016 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $2,117,048 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $128,159 |
| Investment advisory & management fees | $17,263 |
| Other admin expenses | $16,125 |
| Benefits paid out | $7,495,609 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $52.0M / $58.1M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 1,416 / 1,896 |
| Participants with account balances | 2,101 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Not reported |
| Auditor | Caron & Bletzer, PLLC |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Fidelity Investments Institutional | $66,452 reported compensation |
| Caron & Bletzer, PLLC | $28,000 reported compensation |
| Strategic Advisors, Inc. | $17,263 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20250623105824NAL0005891617001, received 2025-06-23, EIN 04-1050290, plan #001, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.