Smithbucklin Corporation 401(k) Review & Grade
Smithbucklin Employee Retirement Plan
Chicago, ILProfessional, Scientific & Technical Services654 active participantsPlan year 2024✓ Auto-enroll
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$4,911Employer $ per active participant
$9,441Employee $ saved per active participant
0.19%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$242.5MNet plan assets, end of year
$223,299Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity36.3 / 5073th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost13.9 / 2556th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving8.0 / 1554th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features10 / 10Auto-enrollment, Default investment
Total score68 / 100 · Grade B
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Professional, Scientific & Technical Services plans with 500–2,499 active participants (1,469 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 73th |
| Lower admin cost | 56th |
| Employee saving | 54th |
| 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
- Smithbucklin put in about $4,911 per active participant, more than the typical peer ($3,082). 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 auto-enrolls employees. Check your default contribution rate. Defaults are often lower than what it takes to get the full match.
- 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 | $3,211,882 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $6,174,444 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $1,259,860 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $459,776 |
| Contract administrator fees | $303,050 |
| Investment advisory & management fees | $50,000 |
| Other admin expenses | $36,050 |
| Benefits paid out | $35,905,178 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $239.3M / $242.5M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 675 / 633 |
| Participants with account balances | 1,086 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Yes |
| Auditor | RSM US LLP |
| Employer stock held by plan | $156,301,540 |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Principal Life Insurance Company | $303,050 reported compensation |
| Investment Consultants | $50,000 reported compensation |
| Greatbanc | $43,260 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20251006095232NAL0001768403001, received 2025-10-06, EIN 41-2078828, plan #003, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.