H.W. Lochner, Inc. 401(k) Review & Grade
H.W. Lochner, Inc. 401(k) Retirement Plan
Chicago, ILProfessional, Scientific & Technical Services796 active participantsPlan year 2024✓ Auto-enroll
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$2,914Employer $ per active participant
$6,660Employee $ saved per active participant
0.09%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$151.1MNet plan assets, end of year
$137,087Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity23.7 / 5047th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost19.4 / 2578th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving5.0 / 1533th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features10 / 10Auto-enrollment, Default investment
Total score58 / 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 | 47th |
| Lower admin cost | 78th |
| Employee saving | 33th |
| 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
- H.W. Lochner put in about $2,914 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.
- The plan auto-enrolls employees. Check your default contribution rate. Defaults are often lower than what it takes to get the full match.
- 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 | $2,319,181 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $5,301,021 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $1,383,029 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $122,800 |
| Contract administrator fees | $35,775 |
| Investment advisory & management fees | $63,241 |
| Other admin expenses | $23,784 |
| Benefits paid out | $31,940,584 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $137.4M / $151.1M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 795 / 797 |
| Participants with account balances | 1,102 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Yes |
| Auditor | Eide Bailly |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Voya Retirement Insur and Annuity | $39,609 reported compensation |
| Voya Retirement Advisors, LLC | $15,028 reported compensation |
| The Angell Pension Group, Inc. | $8,633 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20251013092228NAL0000414755001, received 2025-10-13, EIN 36-2338811, plan #001, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.