Trinet USA, Inc. 401(k) Review & Grade
Trinet 401(k) Colleague Plan
Dublin, CAProfessional, Scientific & Technical Services3,458 active participantsPlan year 2024✓ Auto-enroll
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$4,458Employer $ per active participant
$9,021Employee $ saved per active participant
0.07%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$451.2MNet plan assets, end of year
$99,288Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity35.9 / 5072th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost17.1 / 2568th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving7.4 / 1550th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features10 / 10Auto-enrollment, Default investment
- Red-flag deductions-10 pts1 issue reported on the filing
Total score60 / 100 · Grade B
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Professional, Scientific & Technical Services plans with 2,500–9,999 active participants (231 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 72th |
| Lower admin cost | 68th |
| Employee saving | 50th |
| Peers that auto-enroll | 47% |
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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 ($1,483,508 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
- Trinet USA put in about $4,458 per active participant, more than the typical peer ($2,951). 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.
- 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 | $15,417,525 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $31,199,943 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $6,280,686 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $287,360 |
| Investment advisory & management fees | $991 |
| Benefits paid out | $28,979,165 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $375.1M / $451.2M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 3,458 / 3,459 |
| Participants with account balances | 4,544 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Yes |
| Auditor | Cliftonlarsonallen LLP |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| T Rowe Price RPS Inc | $286,140 reported compensation |
| Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. | $376 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20251015092112NAL0004170017001, received 2025-10-15, EIN 32-0480267, plan #006, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.