True Value Company 401(k) Review & Grade
True Value Company, L.L.C. Savings and Compensation Deferral Plan
Chicago, ILWholesale Trade1,894 active participantsPlan year 2024✓ Auto-enroll
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$0Employer $ per active participant
$4,736Employee $ saved per active participant
0.10%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$223.1MNet plan assets, end of year
$80,117Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity0.4 / 501th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost18.3 / 2573th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving7.7 / 1551th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features10 / 10Auto-enrollment, Default investment
- Red-flag deductions-20 pts2 issues reported on the filing
Total score16 / 100 · Grade F
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Wholesale Trade plans with 500–2,499 active participants (603 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 1th |
| Lower admin cost | 73th |
| Employee saving | 51th |
| Peers that auto-enroll | 53% |
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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 ($49 reported). That's money taken from paychecks that sat with the employer longer than the law allows.
Benefits not paid when due: the plan reported failing to pay some benefits on time.
What to do if you're in this plan
- True Value put in about $0 per active participant, below the typical peer ($1,792). 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.
- 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 | $7 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $8,966,719 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $1,619,409 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $233,337 |
| Contract administrator fees | $600 |
| Investment advisory & management fees | $35,593 |
| Other admin expenses | $45,101 |
| Benefits paid out | $46,313,045 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $228.7M / $223.1M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 2,121 / 1,666 |
| Participants with account balances | 2,785 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Yes |
| Auditor | Blazeska Benefit Plan Services,p.c. |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Fidelity Investments Institutional | $140,381 reported compensation |
| Dimeo Schneider | $45,101 reported compensation |
| Strategic Advisors, Inc. | $35,593 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20251010093420NAL0007445729001, received 2025-10-10, EIN 36-2099896, plan #001, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.