Philz Coffee, Inc. 401(k) Review & Grade
Philz Coffee 401(k) Plan
Oakland, CARetail Trade1,272 active participantsPlan year 2024
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$145Employer $ per active participant
$924Employee $ saved per active participant
0.41%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$6.6MNet plan assets, end of year
$10,325Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity6.3 / 5013th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost7.3 / 2529th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving2.1 / 1514th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features3 / 10Default investment
Total score19 / 100 · Grade F
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Retail Trade plans with 500–2,499 active participants (719 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 13th |
| Lower admin cost | 29th |
| Employee saving | 14th |
| Peers that auto-enroll | 48% |
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Red flags from the filing
No red flags were reported on this filing's compliance questions.
What to do if you're in this plan
- Philz Coffee put in about $145 per active participant, below the typical peer ($743). 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 (0.41% 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.
- 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 | $184,927 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $1,175,521 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $305,361 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $24,179 |
| Investment advisory & management fees | $1,515 |
| Benefits paid out | $964,037 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $5.1M / $6.6M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 1,133 / 1,411 |
| Participants with account balances | 637 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Not reported |
| Auditor | Baker Tilly US LLP |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Fidelity Investments Institutional | $22,664 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20250805114922NAL0001802145001, received 2025-08-05, EIN 20-8459997, plan #001, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.