Bristol Farms, Inc. 401(k) Review & Grade
Bristol Farms, Inc. 401(k) Savings Plan
Carson, CARetail Trade2,190 active participantsPlan year 2024
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$191Employer $ per active participant
$935Employee $ saved per active participant
0.45%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$46.6MNet plan assets, end of year
–Average balance per account (account count looks misreported)
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity7.7 / 5015th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost6.7 / 2527th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving2.2 / 1514th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features3 / 10Default investment
- Red-flag deductions-10 pts1 issue reported on the filing
Total score10 / 100 · Grade F
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Retail Trade plans with 500–2,499 active participants (719 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 15th |
| Lower admin cost | 27th |
| Employee saving | 14th |
| 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 ($427,865 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
- Bristol Farms put in about $191 per active participant, below the typical peer ($743). 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 (0.45% 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 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 | $418,192 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $2,046,558 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $118,219 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $202,566 |
| Investment advisory & management fees | $87,589 |
| Benefits paid out | $5,192,632 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $44.1M / $46.6M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 2,357 / 2,022 |
| Participants with account balances | 1,010 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Not reported |
| Auditor | Baker Tilly US, LLP |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Adp, Inc. | $114,976 reported compensation |
| Morgan Stanley Smith Barney | $87,589 reported compensation |
| Adp Broker-Dealer | $0 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20251015052101NAL0005250848001, received 2025-10-15, EIN 95-3750445, plan #003, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.