Allbirds, Inc. 401(k) Review & Grade
Allbirds 401(k) Plan
San Francisco, CARetail Trade684 active participantsPlan year 2024
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$1,465Employer $ per active participant
$3,188Employee $ saved per active participant
0.16%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$21.8MNet plan assets, end of year
$50,165Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity37.1 / 5074th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost15.3 / 2561th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving8.1 / 1554th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features3 / 10Default investment
- Red-flag deductions-10 pts1 issue reported on the filing
Total score54 / 100 · Grade C
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Retail Trade plans with 500–2,499 active participants (719 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 74th |
| Lower admin cost | 61th |
| Employee saving | 54th |
| Peers that auto-enroll | 48% |
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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 ($584,466 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
- Allbirds put in about $1,465 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 | $1,001,579 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $2,179,008 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $642,651 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $31,751 |
| Benefits paid out | $2,661,475 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $17.8M / $21.8M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 671 / 696 |
| Participants with account balances | 435 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Not reported |
| Auditor | Wright Ford Young |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Fidelity Investments Institutional | $31,751 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20251015115053NAL0009065682001, received 2025-10-15, EIN 47-3999983, plan #001, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.