Universal Engineering Sciences, LLC 401(k) Review & Grade
Universal Engineering Sciences 401(k) Plan
Orlando, FLProfessional, Scientific & Technical Services3,626 active participantsPlan year 2024
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$1,987Employer $ per active participant
$3,451Employee $ saved per active participant
0.45%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$151.2MNet plan assets, end of year
$53,653Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity17.6 / 5035th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost3.6 / 2514th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving2.8 / 1519th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features3 / 10Default investment
- Red-flag deductions-10 pts1 issue reported on the filing
Total score17 / 100 · Grade F
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Professional, Scientific & Technical Services plans with 2,500–9,999 active participants (231 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 35th |
| Lower admin cost | 14th |
| Employee saving | 19th |
| Peers that auto-enroll | 47% |
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 ($823,003 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
- Universal Engineering Sciences put in about $1,987 per active participant, below the typical peer ($2,951). 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.
- Direct plan expenses (0.45% of assets) are well above similar-size plans (0.12%). 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 | $7,205,632 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $12,513,401 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $2,305,755 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $608,891 |
| Contract administrator fees | $608,891 |
| Benefits paid out | $21,950,434 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $116.8M / $151.2M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 3,562 / 3,690 |
| Participants with account balances | 2,819 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Not reported |
| Auditor | Harding, Shymanski and Co. PSC |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Empower Annuity Insurance Company | $277,468 reported compensation |
| Stifel Nicolaus & Co Inc | $211,424 reported compensation |
| Compass360 | $158,042 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20251014164759NAL0004578704001, received 2025-10-14, EIN 59-1117804, plan #001, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.