Axel Johnson Inc. 401(k) Review & Grade
Axel Johnson Inc. Thrift and Defined Contribution Plan
Stamford, CTWholesale Trade906 active participantsPlan year 2024
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$5,177Employer $ per active participant
$7,851Employee $ saved per active participant
0.08%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$195.3MNet plan assets, end of year
$156,597Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity44.7 / 5089th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost19.7 / 2579th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving12.9 / 1586th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features3 / 10Default investment
- Red-flag deductions-10 pts1 issue reported on the filing
Total score70 / 100 · Grade B
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Wholesale Trade plans with 500–2,499 active participants (603 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 89th |
| Lower admin cost | 79th |
| Employee saving | 86th |
| Peers that auto-enroll | 53% |
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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 ($186 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
- Axel Johnson put in about $5,177 per active participant, more than the typical peer ($1,792). 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 | $4,692,646 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $7,116,745 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $545,521 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $152,624 |
| Other admin expenses | $152,624 |
| Benefits paid out | $22,157,219 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $182.6M / $195.3M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 942 / 871 |
| Participants with account balances | 1,247 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Not reported |
| Auditor | Grant Thornton LLP |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| The Vanguard Group, Inc. | $108,031 reported compensation |
| Vanguard Advisers Inc. | $37,752 reported compensation |
| Nepc LLC | $9,150 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20251013090631NAL0000402883001, received 2025-10-13, EIN 06-1600707, plan #002, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.