Embark Consulting, LLC 401(k) Review & Grade
Embark Consulting, LLC 401(k) Plan
Dallas, TXProfessional, Scientific & Technical Services596 active participantsPlan year 2024
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$4,063Employer $ per active participant
$12,332Employee $ saved per active participant
0.42%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$40.3MNet plan assets, end of year
$60,390Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity32.3 / 5065th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost7.2 / 2529th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving11.5 / 1576th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features3 / 10Default investment
- Red-flag deductions-3 pts1 issue reported on the filing
Total score51 / 100 · Grade C
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Professional, Scientific & Technical Services plans with 500–2,499 active participants (1,469 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 65th |
| Lower admin cost | 29th |
| Employee saving | 76th |
| Peers that auto-enroll | 48% |
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Red flags from the filing
Corrective distributions: the plan refunded $323 in contributions, which usually means it failed annual nondiscrimination testing.
What to do if you're in this plan
- Embark Consulting put in about $4,063 per active participant, more than the typical peer ($3,082). 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 (0.42% 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.
- 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 | $2,419,475 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $7,343,479 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $1,514,961 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $139,101 |
| Investment advisory & management fees | $25,864 |
| Benefits paid out | $1,758,094 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $26.1M / $40.3M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 616 / 575 |
| Participants with account balances | 668 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Not reported |
| Auditor | Hm&m Group, LLC |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Empower Annuity Insurance Company O | $113,237 reported compensation |
| Empower Advisory Group, LLC | $25,864 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20251015160348NAL0010191154001, received 2025-10-15, EIN 46-3299551, plan #001, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.