Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP 401(k) Review & Grade
Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP Employee Savings Plan
Los Angeles, CAProfessional, Scientific & Technical Services808 active participantsPlan year 2024✓ Auto-enroll
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$9,619Employer $ per active participant
$15,401Employee $ saved per active participant
0.05%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$430.4MNet plan assets, end of year
$313,735Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity45.2 / 5090th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost21.5 / 2586th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving13.4 / 1589th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features10 / 10Auto-enrollment, Default investment
- Red-flag deductions-10 pts1 issue reported on the filing
Total score80 / 100 · Grade A
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Professional, Scientific & Technical Services plans with 500–2,499 active participants (1,469 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 90th |
| Lower admin cost | 86th |
| Employee saving | 89th |
| Peers that auto-enroll | 48% |
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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 ($550 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
- Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP put in about $9,619 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.
- 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.
- 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 | $7,776,612 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $12,452,073 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $3,060,523 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $222,620 |
| Other admin expenses | $222,620 |
| Benefits paid out | $33,479,722 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $390.6M / $430.4M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 772 / 845 |
| Participants with account balances | 1,372 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Yes |
| Auditor | Holthouse, Carlin, & Van Trigt LLP |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| The Vanguard Group, Inc. | $142,010 reported compensation |
| Vanguard Advisers Inc. | $62,685 reported compensation |
| Holthouse Carlin & Van Trigt LLP | $19,500 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20251013121457NAL0001191969001, received 2025-10-13, EIN 95-2375841, plan #001, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.