Merieux Nutrisciences Corporation 401(k) Review & Grade
Merieux Nutrisciences & Subsidiaries Retirement Plan
Chicago, ILOther Services1,218 active participantsPlan year 2024✓ Auto-enroll
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$1,588Employer $ per active participant
$5,362Employee $ saved per active participant
0.27%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$102.0MNet plan assets, end of year
$57,093Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity30.3 / 5061th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost11.1 / 2544th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving11.7 / 1578th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features10 / 10Auto-enrollment, Default investment
- Red-flag deductions-13 pts2 issues reported on the filing
Total score50 / 100 · Grade C
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Other Services plans with 500–2,499 active participants (333 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 61th |
| Lower admin cost | 44th |
| Employee saving | 78th |
| Peers that auto-enroll | 40% |
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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 ($16,902 reported). That's money taken from paychecks that sat with the employer longer than the law allows.
Corrective distributions: the plan refunded $1,227 in contributions, which usually means it failed annual nondiscrimination testing.
What to do if you're in this plan
- Merieux Nutrisciences put in about $1,588 per active participant, more than the typical peer ($1,257). 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 | $1,934,008 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $6,531,475 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $220,133 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $264,548 |
| Investment advisory & management fees | $128,977 |
| Benefits paid out | $13,044,012 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $93.5M / $102.0M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 1,204 / 1,232 |
| Participants with account balances | 1,787 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Yes |
| Auditor | Cliftonlarsonallen LLP |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Schwab Retirement Plan Service,inc. | $135,421 reported compensation |
| Creative Planning Holdco LLC | $125,982 reported compensation |
| Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. | $92 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20260407091922NAL0008979616001, received 2026-04-07, EIN 43-1848483, plan #001, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.