CSS Payroll Co LP 401(k) Review & Grade
CSS Payroll 401(k) Plan
Los Angeles, CAReal Estate & Rental1,209 active participantsPlan year 2024✓ Auto-enroll
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$0Employer $ per active participant
$6,833Employee $ saved per active participant
0.36%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$42.9MNet plan assets, end of year
$30,232Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity0.0 / 500th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost8.5 / 2534th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving12.4 / 1582th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features10 / 10Auto-enrollment, Default investment
- Red-flag deductions-13 pts2 issues reported on the filing
Total score18 / 100 · Grade F
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Real Estate & Rental plans with 500–2,499 active participants (291 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 0th |
| Lower admin cost | 34th |
| Employee saving | 82th |
| Peers that auto-enroll | 47% |
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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 ($23,722 reported). That's money taken from paychecks that sat with the employer longer than the law allows.
Corrective distributions: the plan refunded $9,341 in contributions, which usually means it failed annual nondiscrimination testing.
What to do if you're in this plan
- This plan reported $0 in employer contributions for 2024. Some employers put their money into a separate plan, so check any other plans listed below and ask HR. If there really is no company money, you still get the tax break. Compare the plan's fees and funds with an IRA before deciding where your next dollar goes.
- 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 (0.36% 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 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 | $0 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $8,261,003 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $705,773 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $142,811 |
| Investment advisory & management fees | $40,941 |
| Benefits paid out | $8,543,262 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $36.6M / $42.9M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 1,219 / 1,199 |
| Participants with account balances | 1,420 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Yes |
| Auditor | Pension Assurance LLP |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Fidelity Investments Institutional | $85,870 reported compensation |
| Silicon Valley Retirement Services | $32,400 reported compensation |
| Pension Assurance LLP | $16,000 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20251010143256NAL0007878225001, received 2025-10-10, EIN 37-1900386, plan #001, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.