See's Candies, Inc. 401(k) Review & Grade
See's Retirement Plan
South San Francisco, CAManufacturing1,600 active participantsPlan year 2024
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$3,225Employer $ per active participant
$2,249Employee $ saved per active participant
0.24%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$86.0MNet plan assets, end of year
$53,357Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity33.1 / 5066th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost12.1 / 2549th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving2.2 / 1515th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features3 / 10Default investment
- Red-flag deductions-10 pts1 issue reported on the filing
Total score40 / 100 · Grade D
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Manufacturing plans with 500–2,499 active participants (2,376 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 66th |
| Lower admin cost | 49th |
| Employee saving | 15th |
| 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 ($227 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
- See's Candies put in about $3,225 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 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 | $5,161,623 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $3,598,809 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $51,637 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $198,301 |
| Contract administrator fees | $198,301 |
| Benefits paid out | $9,765,298 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $79.2M / $86.0M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 1,529 / 1,672 |
| Participants with account balances | 1,611 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Not reported |
| Auditor | Pension Assurance LLP |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Principal Life Insurance Company | $203,101 reported compensation |
| Wilshire Advisors LLC | $0 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20250922125658NAL0002145987001, received 2025-09-22, EIN 94-0852350, plan #004, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.