C & J Clark America, Inc. 401(k) Review & Grade
Clarks Americas, Inc. Savings Plan
Needham, MARetail Trade1,659 active participantsPlan year 2024
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$903Employer $ per active participant
$1,407Employee $ saved per active participant
0.31%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$70.4MNet plan assets, end of year
–Average balance per account (account count looks misreported)
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity28.8 / 5058th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost10.0 / 2540th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving3.4 / 1523th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features3 / 10Default investment
- Red-flag deductions-10 pts1 issue reported on the filing
Total score35 / 100 · Grade D
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Retail Trade plans with 500–2,499 active participants (719 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 58th |
| Lower admin cost | 40th |
| Employee saving | 23th |
| 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 ($1,626 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
- C & J Clark America put in about $903 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 | $1,497,740 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $2,334,712 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $72,606 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $216,647 |
| Contract administrator fees | $72,146 |
| Investment advisory & management fees | $144,501 |
| Benefits paid out | $14,688,072 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $71.4M / $70.4M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 1,759 / 1,559 |
| Participants with account balances | 791 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Not reported |
| Auditor | Caron & Bletzer, PLLC |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Towers Watson Investment Services, | $145,000 reported compensation |
| Principal Life Insurance Company | $78,146 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20251015085321NAL0002128819001, received 2025-10-15, EIN 23-2051236, plan #002, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.