Metal Exchange, LLC 401(k) Review & Grade
Retirement Savings Plan for Metal Exchange Family of Companies
ST. Louis, MOManufacturing795 active participantsPlan year 2024✓ Auto-enroll
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$2,605Employer $ per active participant
$4,842Employee $ saved per active participant
0.18%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$59.7MNet plan assets, end of year
$68,976Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity27.9 / 5056th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost14.5 / 2558th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving7.3 / 1548th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features10 / 10Auto-enrollment, Default investment
- Red-flag deductions-13 pts2 issues reported on the filing
Total score47 / 100 · Grade C
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Manufacturing plans with 500–2,499 active participants (2,376 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 56th |
| Lower admin cost | 58th |
| Employee saving | 48th |
| 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 ($3,272 reported). That's money taken from paychecks that sat with the employer longer than the law allows.
Corrective distributions: the plan refunded $12,167 in contributions, which usually means it failed annual nondiscrimination testing.
What to do if you're in this plan
- Metal Exchange put in about $2,605 per active participant, more than the typical peer ($2,320). 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 | $2,070,966 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $3,849,161 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $287,887 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $100,879 |
| Investment advisory & management fees | $46,667 |
| Benefits paid out | $7,920,239 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $52.8M / $59.7M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 915 / 675 |
| Participants with account balances | 866 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Yes |
| Auditor | Uhy LLP |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Empower Annuity Insurance Company O | $53,443 reported compensation |
| Concurrent Investment Advisors LLC | $46,667 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20251015142435NAL0009714386001, received 2025-10-15, EIN 26-1762076, plan #003, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.