Lessen LLC 401(k) Review & Grade
Lessen 401(k) Plan
Chicago, ILAdministrative, Support & Staffing Services976 active participantsPlan year 2024✓ Auto-enroll
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$1,735Employer $ per active participant
$5,413Employee $ saved per active participant
0.62%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$40.1MNet plan assets, end of year
$28,877Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity37.4 / 5075th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost4.1 / 2516th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving11.9 / 1580th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features10 / 10Auto-enrollment, Default investment
- Red-flag deductions-10 pts1 issue reported on the filing
Total score53 / 100 · Grade C
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Administrative, Support & Staffing Services plans with 500–2,499 active participants (401 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 75th |
| Lower admin cost | 16th |
| Employee saving | 80th |
| Peers that auto-enroll | 27% |
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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 ($16,830 reported). That's money taken from paychecks that sat with the employer longer than the law allows.
What to do if you're in this plan
- Lessen put in about $1,735 per active participant, more than the typical peer ($712). 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 (0.62% 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 | $1,693,402 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $5,282,642 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $635,995 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $208,312 |
| Contract administrator fees | $161,311 |
| Investment advisory & management fees | $47,001 |
| Benefits paid out | $5,667,044 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $26.7M / $40.1M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 1,080 / 872 |
| Participants with account balances | 1,388 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Yes |
| Auditor | Fgmk, LLC |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Principal Life Insurance Company | $161,311 reported compensation |
| Creative Planning, LLC | $47,096 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20251014121702NAL0001333731001, received 2025-10-14, EIN 36-4296411, plan #001, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.