Cogent Communications, Inc. 401(k) Review & Grade
Cogent Communications, Inc. 401(k) Plan
Washington, DCInformation1,660 active participantsPlan year 2024✓ Auto-enroll
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$1,918Employer $ per active participant
$6,299Employee $ saved per active participant
0.11%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$88.8MNet plan assets, end of year
$49,451Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity15.2 / 5030th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost17.7 / 2571th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving4.9 / 1533th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features10 / 10Auto-enrollment, Default investment
- Red-flag deductions-13 pts2 issues reported on the filing
Total score35 / 100 · Grade D
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Information plans with 500–2,499 active participants (310 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 30th |
| Lower admin cost | 71th |
| Employee saving | 33th |
| Peers that auto-enroll | 59% |
Get the monthly 401(k) report card
The best and worst plans, new grades as filings post. One email a month, no spam.
Red flags from the filing
Late deposits: the filing says some employee contributions were not sent to the plan on time ($11,306 reported). That's money taken from paychecks that sat with the employer longer than the law allows.
Corrective distributions: the plan refunded $70,711 in contributions, which usually means it failed annual nondiscrimination testing.
What to do if you're in this plan
- Cogent Communications put in about $1,918 per active participant, below the typical peer ($2,829). 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.
- 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 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 | $3,182,629 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $10,452,910 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $3,310,675 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $89,770 |
| Benefits paid out | $6,978,268 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $67.6M / $88.8M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 1,707 / 1,612 |
| Participants with account balances | 1,795 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Yes |
| Auditor | Adeptus Partners |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Empower Annuity Insurance Company O | $131,077 reported compensation |
| Empower Advisory Group, LLC | $41,906 reported compensation |
| Onedigital Investment Advisors LLC | $38,150 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20251003132409NAL0000830963001, received 2025-10-03, EIN 52-2192026, plan #001, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.