Shepard Exposition Services, Inc. 401(k) Review & Grade
Shepard Exposition Services, Inc. 401(k) Plan
Atlanta, GAConstruction778 active participantsPlan year 2024
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$1,577Employer $ per active participant
$3,602Employee $ saved per active participant
0.36%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$39.0MNet plan assets, end of year
$64,009Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity23.6 / 5047th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost8.5 / 2534th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving6.9 / 1546th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features3 / 10Default investment
Total score42 / 100 · Grade D
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Construction plans with 500–2,499 active participants (498 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 47th |
| Lower admin cost | 34th |
| Employee saving | 46th |
| Peers that auto-enroll | 44% |
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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
- Shepard Exposition Services put in about $1,577 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.
- Direct plan expenses (0.36% 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 | $1,228,075 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $2,803,775 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $1,773,514 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $128,667 |
| Investment advisory & management fees | $59,055 |
| Benefits paid out | $3,352,230 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $32.1M / $39.0M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 681 / 876 |
| Participants with account balances | 609 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Not reported |
| Auditor | Windham Brannon, LLC |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Fidelity Investments Institutional | $69,612 reported compensation |
| World Investment Advisors LLC | $59,055 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20251015095357NAL0004230993001, received 2025-10-15, EIN 58-1463468, plan #004, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.