Dynata, LLC 401(k) Review & Grade
Dynata, LLC Employee 401(k) Plan
Shelton, CTProfessional, Scientific & Technical Services2,698 active participantsPlan year 2024
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$409Employer $ per active participant
$2,003Employee $ saved per active participant
0.18%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$114.1MNet plan assets, end of year
–Average balance per account (account count looks misreported)
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity7.8 / 5016th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost9.5 / 2538th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving1.8 / 1512th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features3 / 10Default investment
- Red-flag deductions-3 pts1 issue reported on the filing
Total score19 / 100 · Grade F
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Professional, Scientific & Technical Services plans with 2,500–9,999 active participants (231 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 16th |
| Lower admin cost | 38th |
| Employee saving | 12th |
| Peers that auto-enroll | 47% |
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Red flags from the filing
Corrective distributions: the plan refunded $278,326 in contributions, which usually means it failed annual nondiscrimination testing.
What to do if you're in this plan
- Dynata put in about $409 per active participant, below the typical peer ($2,951). 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 | $1,102,667 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $5,403,303 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $1,950,174 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $196,183 |
| Investment advisory & management fees | $109,854 |
| Benefits paid out | $9,422,097 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $100.8M / $114.1M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 922 / 4,474 |
| Participants with account balances | 1,117 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Not reported |
| Auditor | Caron & Bletzer PLLC |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Fidelity Investments Institutional | $84,688 reported compensation |
| Cetera Investment Advisors LLC | $84,688 reported compensation |
| Strategic Advisors, Inc. | $25,166 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20250620161137NAL0009997490001, received 2025-06-20, EIN 92-0188807, plan #001, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.