Ecore International 401(k) Review & Grade
Ecore International 401(k) Plan
Lancaster, PAManufacturing637 active participantsPlan year 2024✓ Auto-enroll
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$2,906Employer $ per active participant
$5,477Employee $ saved per active participant
0.59%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$39.3MNet plan assets, end of year
$52,301Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity30.8 / 5062th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost4.5 / 2518th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving8.7 / 1558th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features10 / 10Auto-enrollment, Default investment
- Red-flag deductions-13 pts2 issues reported on the filing
Total score41 / 100 · Grade D
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Manufacturing plans with 500–2,499 active participants (2,376 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 62th |
| Lower admin cost | 18th |
| Employee saving | 58th |
| Peers that auto-enroll | 59% |
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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 ($336,778 reported). That's money taken from paychecks that sat with the employer longer than the law allows.
Corrective distributions: the plan refunded $1,332 in contributions, which usually means it failed annual nondiscrimination testing.
What to do if you're in this plan
- Ecore International put in about $2,906 per active participant, more than the typical peer ($2,320). Contribute at least enough to collect the full match. Skipping it leaves part of your pay on the table.
- 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 (0.59% 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 | $1,851,272 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $3,488,874 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $699,481 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $217,544 |
| Contract administrator fees | $132,584 |
| Investment advisory & management fees | $40,749 |
| Benefits paid out | $5,947,100 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $34.0M / $39.3M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 614 / 660 |
| Participants with account balances | 752 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Yes |
| Auditor | Stambaugh Ness, Inc. |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Principal Life Insurance Company | $135,139 reported compensation |
| Commonwealth Equity Services LLC | $89,826 reported compensation |
| Empower Annuity Ins Co. of America | $44,211 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20251007094128NAL0002554403001, received 2025-10-07, EIN 23-2562001, plan #003, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.