Cbe Companies, Inc. 401(k) Review & Grade
Cbe Companies 401(k) Retirement Plan
Cedar Falls, IAAdministrative, Support & Staffing Services602 active participantsPlan year 2024
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$588Employer $ per active participant
$2,085Employee $ saved per active participant
0.53%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$16.0MNet plan assets, end of year
$42,568Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity23.1 / 5046th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost5.2 / 2521th 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-13 pts2 issues reported on the filing
Total score26 / 100 · Grade F
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Administrative, Support & Staffing Services plans with 500–2,499 active participants (401 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 46th |
| Lower admin cost | 21th |
| Employee saving | 54th |
| Peers that auto-enroll | 27% |
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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 ($984 reported). That's money taken from paychecks that sat with the employer longer than the law allows.
Corrective distributions: the plan refunded $91,564 in contributions, which usually means it failed annual nondiscrimination testing.
What to do if you're in this plan
- Cbe Companies put in about $588 per active participant, below the typical peer ($712). 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 (0.53% 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 | $353,844 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $1,253,950 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $109,568 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $78,616 |
| Investment advisory & management fees | $27,848 |
| Other admin expenses | $13,294 |
| Benefits paid out | $721,574 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $13.4M / $16.0M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 661 / 542 |
| Participants with account balances | 376 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Not reported |
| Auditor | Hogan-Hansen PC |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Empower Annuity Insurance Company | $30,027 reported compensation |
| Choreo LLC | $20,000 reported compensation |
| Qualified Plan Consultants LLC | $19,851 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20250730145154NAL0002458403001, received 2025-07-30, EIN 46-2116941, plan #001, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.