Mars, Incorporated 401(k) Review & Grade
U.S. Associate Savings Advantage Plan
Hackettstown, NJManufacturing1,011 active participantsPlan year 2024✓ Auto-enroll
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$1,751Employer $ per active participant
$3,210Employee $ saved per active participant
0.30%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$22.7MNet plan assets, end of year
$21,395Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity18.2 / 5036th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost10.1 / 2540th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving3.8 / 1526th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features10 / 10Auto-enrollment, Default investment
- Red-flag deductions-10 pts1 issue reported on the filing
Total score32 / 100 · Grade D
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Manufacturing plans with 500–2,499 active participants (2,376 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 36th |
| Lower admin cost | 40th |
| Employee saving | 26th |
| Peers that auto-enroll | 59% |
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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 ($37,288 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
- Mars, Incorporated put in about $1,751 per active participant, below the typical peer ($2,320). 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.
- 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 | $1,770,621 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $3,245,200 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $944,220 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $58,919 |
| Investment advisory & management fees | $4,202 |
| Other admin expenses | $5,944 |
| Benefits paid out | $2,131,065 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $16.7M / $22.7M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 1,005 / 1,017 |
| Participants with account balances | 1,061 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Yes |
| Auditor | Pricewaterhousecoopers |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Fidelity Investments Institutional | $48,773 reported compensation |
| Willis Towers Watson US LLC | $5,000 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20251002084109NAL0000159299001, received 2025-10-02, EIN 22-1594774, plan #006, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.