Synthomer Inc. 401(k) Review & Grade
Synthomer Savings Plan
Beachwood, OHManufacturing808 active participantsPlan year 2024
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$4,414Employer $ per active participant
$10,694Employee $ saved per active participant
0.06%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$164.1MNet plan assets, end of year
$129,689Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity39.3 / 5079th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost21.4 / 2586th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving13.8 / 1592th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features3 / 10Default investment
- Red-flag deductions-10 pts1 issue reported on the filing
Total score68 / 100 · Grade B
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Manufacturing plans with 500–2,499 active participants (2,376 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 79th |
| Lower admin cost | 86th |
| Employee saving | 92th |
| Peers that auto-enroll | 59% |
Get the monthly 401(k) report card
The best and worst plans, new grades as filings post. One email a month, no spam.
Red flags from the filing
Late deposits: the filing says some employee contributions were not sent to the plan on time ($19,877 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
- Synthomer put in about $4,414 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 | $3,568,798 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $8,646,364 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $1,518,257 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $87,659 |
| Investment advisory & management fees | $50,261 |
| Benefits paid out | $22,626,092 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $153.3M / $164.1M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 828 / 789 |
| Participants with account balances | 1,265 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Not reported |
| Auditor | Meaden & Moore, LTD |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Strategic Advisors, Inc. | $50,261 reported compensation |
| Fidelity Investments Institutional | $37,398 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20260401155542NAL0002087570001, received 2026-04-01, EIN 34-1897652, plan #013, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.