National Trench Safety, Inc. 401(k) Review & Grade
NTS 401(k) Plan
Houston, TXProfessional, Scientific & Technical Services789 active participantsPlan year 2024✓ Auto-enroll
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$2,664Employer $ per active participant
$4,185Employee $ saved per active participant
0.55%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$39.2MNet plan assets, end of year
$36,120Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity22.0 / 5044th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost5.0 / 2520th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving3.2 / 1521th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features10 / 10Auto-enrollment, Default investment
- Red-flag deductions-10 pts1 issue reported on the filing
Total score30 / 100 · Grade D
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Professional, Scientific & Technical Services plans with 500–2,499 active participants (1,469 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 44th |
| Lower admin cost | 20th |
| Employee saving | 21th |
| 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 ($57,301 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
- National Trench Safety put in about $2,664 per active participant, below the typical peer ($3,082). 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.
- Direct plan expenses (0.55% 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 | $2,101,519 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $3,301,608 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $860,139 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $202,781 |
| Contract administrator fees | $202,781 |
| Benefits paid out | $4,958,174 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $34.0M / $39.2M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 776 / 802 |
| Participants with account balances | 1,086 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Yes |
| Auditor | Meihaus CPA, PC |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| John Hancock USA | $17,132 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20251105070621NAL0005478099001, received 2025-11-05, EIN 95-3542366, plan #002, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.