Collectors Universe, Inc. 401(k) Review & Grade
Collectors Universe, Inc. 401(k) Plan
Santa Ana, CAProfessional, Scientific & Technical Services1,787 active participantsPlan year 2024
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$1,261Employer $ per active participant
$3,421Employee $ saved per active participant
0.34%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$42.5MNet plan assets, end of year
$42,758Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity11.5 / 5023th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost9.1 / 2536th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving2.7 / 1518th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features3 / 10Default investment
Total score26 / 100 · Grade F
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Professional, Scientific & Technical Services plans with 500–2,499 active participants (1,469 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 23th |
| Lower admin cost | 36th |
| Employee saving | 18th |
| Peers that auto-enroll | 48% |
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Red flags from the filing
No red flags were reported on this filing's compliance questions.
What to do if you're in this plan
- Collectors Universe put in about $1,261 per active participant, below the typical peer ($3,082). 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.
- 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 | $2,253,872 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $6,114,187 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $1,021,708 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $125,058 |
| Investment advisory & management fees | $103,372 |
| Benefits paid out | $3,129,144 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $31.5M / $42.5M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 1,808 / 1,766 |
| Participants with account balances | 994 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Not reported |
| Auditor | Cliftonlarsonallen LLP |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Mma Securities LLC | $62,072 reported compensation |
| Empower Advisory Group, LLC | $41,300 reported compensation |
| Empower Annuity Insurance Company O | $21,686 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20251002111753NAL0001051394001, received 2025-10-02, EIN 33-0846191, plan #001, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.