Allen Distribution 401(k) Review & Grade
Allen Distribution 401(k) and Profit Sharing Plan
Carlisle, PATransportation & Warehousing1,072 active participantsPlan year 2024✓ Auto-enroll
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$950Employer $ per active participant
$2,355Employee $ saved per active participant
1.66%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$13.3MNet plan assets, end of year
$7,999Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity23.1 / 5046th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost0.5 / 252th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving5.8 / 1539th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features10 / 10Auto-enrollment, Default investment
- Red-flag deductions-13 pts2 issues reported on the filing
Total score26 / 100 · Grade F
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Transportation & Warehousing plans with 500–2,499 active participants (392 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 46th |
| Lower admin cost | 2th |
| Employee saving | 39th |
| Peers that auto-enroll | 37% |
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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 ($647,796 reported). That's money taken from paychecks that sat with the employer longer than the law allows.
Corrective distributions: the plan refunded $30,432 in contributions, which usually means it failed annual nondiscrimination testing.
What to do if you're in this plan
- Allen Distribution put in about $950 per active participant, below the typical peer ($1,070). 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 (1.66% of assets) are well above similar-size plans (0.23%). 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 | $1,019,177 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $2,526,094 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $968,386 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $191,796 |
| Contract administrator fees | $84,256 |
| Benefits paid out | $2,089,747 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $9.9M / $13.3M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 1,105 / 1,040 |
| Participants with account balances | 1,665 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Yes |
| Auditor | Boyer & Ritter LLC |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| PA Retirement Solutions | $86,756 reported compensation |
| Empower Annuity Insurance Co of Ame | $74,167 reported compensation |
| Mma Securities LLC | $28,869 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20251008170636NAL0006172161001, received 2025-10-08, EIN 25-1576445, plan #001, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.