Nine Energy Service, LLC 401(k) Review & Grade
Nine Energy Service 401(k) Plan
Houston, TXMining, Oil & Gas1,096 active participantsPlan year 2024✓ Auto-enroll
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$1,927Employer $ per active participant
$3,961Employee $ saved per active participant
0.27%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$59.7MNet plan assets, end of year
$67,572Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity9.0 / 5018th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost11.2 / 2545th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving2.5 / 1516th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features10 / 10Auto-enrollment, Default investment
- Red-flag deductions-10 pts1 issue reported on the filing
Total score23 / 100 · Grade F
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Mining, Oil & Gas plans with 500–2,499 active participants (129 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 18th |
| Lower admin cost | 45th |
| Employee saving | 16th |
| Peers that auto-enroll | 60% |
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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 ($65 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
- Nine Energy Service put in about $1,927 per active participant, below the typical peer ($4,357). 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 | $2,113,101 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $4,343,279 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $693,392 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $148,844 |
| Contract administrator fees | $1,500 |
| Investment advisory & management fees | $63,442 |
| Benefits paid out | $6,161,084 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $51.2M / $59.7M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 1,116 / 1,077 |
| Participants with account balances | 883 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Yes |
| Auditor | Crowe LLP |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Fidelity Investments Institutional | $85,402 reported compensation |
| Regions Bank | $41,212 reported compensation |
| Strategic Advisors, Inc. | $22,229 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20250729113411NAL0002674561001, received 2025-07-29, EIN 37-1740603, plan #002, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.