Engineering Consulting Services, LTD. 401(k) Review & Grade
Engineering Consulting Services, LTD. 401(k) Retirement Plan
Chantilly, VAProfessional, Scientific & Technical Services2,414 active participantsPlan year 2024
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$2,296Employer $ per active participant
$4,200Employee $ saved per active participant
0.19%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$187.1MNet plan assets, end of year
$95,486Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity19.0 / 5038th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost14.2 / 2557th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving3.2 / 1521th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features3 / 10Default investment
Total score39 / 100 · Grade D
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Professional, Scientific & Technical Services plans with 500–2,499 active participants (1,469 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 38th |
| Lower admin cost | 57th |
| Employee saving | 21th |
| 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
- Engineering Consulting Services put in about $2,296 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 | $5,540,519 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $10,136,521 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $1,387,064 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $318,047 |
| Investment advisory & management fees | $169,778 |
| Benefits paid out | $11,139,015 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $156.0M / $187.1M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 2,497 / 2,330 |
| Participants with account balances | 1,959 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Not reported |
| Auditor | Baker Tilly US, LLP |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Morgan Stanley | $169,778 reported compensation |
| Capital Group Retirement Plan Svcs. | $148,269 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20250818082417NAL0001063441001, received 2025-08-18, EIN 54-1439291, plan #001, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.