Step by Step, Inc. 401(k) Review & Grade
Retirement Plan for Employees of Step by Step, Inc
Wilkes Barre, PAHealth Care & Social Assistance1,280 active participantsPlan year 2024
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$1,119Employer $ per active participant
$769Employee $ saved per active participant
0.39%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$23.8MNet plan assets, end of year
$19,327Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity26.6 / 5053th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost7.9 / 2532th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving2.5 / 1517th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features3 / 10Default investment
- Red-flag deductions-10 pts1 issue reported on the filing
Total score30 / 100 · Grade D
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Health Care & Social Assistance plans with 500–2,499 active participants (1,427 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 53th |
| Lower admin cost | 32th |
| Employee saving | 17th |
| Peers that auto-enroll | 36% |
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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 ($975 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
- Step by Step put in about $1,119 per active participant, more than the typical peer ($976). 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.
- Direct plan expenses (0.39% 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.
- 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 | $1,432,569 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $984,280 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $321,967 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $87,122 |
| Investment advisory & management fees | $4,089 |
| Benefits paid out | $2,612,740 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $21.4M / $23.8M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 1,203 / 1,358 |
| Participants with account balances | 1,231 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Not reported |
| Auditor | Baker Tilly US LLP |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Empower Annuity Insurance Company | $83,033 reported compensation |
| The Paragon Alliance Group, LLC | $16,361 reported compensation |
| TBS Agency Inc | $16,256 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20260327095440NAL0009217362001, received 2026-03-27, EIN 23-2053563, plan #001, plan year 2024-07-01 to 2025-06-30. Verify at efast.dol.gov.