Red Cow Group LLC 401(k) Review & Grade
Red Cow 401k Retirement Plan
San Diego, CAConstruction530 active participantsPlan year 2024
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$604Employer $ per active participant
$1,216Employee $ saved per active participant
0.30%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$4.3MNet plan assets, end of year
–Average balance per account (account count looks misreported)
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity9.6 / 5019th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost10.1 / 2540th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving1.6 / 1511th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features3 / 10Default investment
- Red-flag deductions-10 pts1 issue reported on the filing
Total score14 / 100 · Grade F
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Construction plans with 500–2,499 active participants (498 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 19th |
| Lower admin cost | 40th |
| Employee saving | 11th |
| Peers that auto-enroll | 44% |
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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 ($27,508 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
- Red Cow Group put in about $604 per active participant, below the typical peer ($1,672). 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 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 | $320,219 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $644,643 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $22,441 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $11,283 |
| Contract administrator fees | $1,375 |
| Investment advisory & management fees | $9,908 |
| Benefits paid out | $244,987 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $3.2M / $4.3M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 534 / 526 |
| Participants with account balances | 106 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Not reported |
| Auditor | Eide Baily LLP |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| American United Life Insurance Co | $32,113 reported compensation |
| LPL Financial LLC | $9,908 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20251008161517NAL0003422115001, received 2025-10-08, EIN 87-1439148, plan #001, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.