West Star Aviation, LLC West Star Aviation 401(k) Review & Grade
West Star Aviation, LLC 401(k) Plan
East Alton, ILTransportation & Warehousing1,894 active participantsPlan year 2024✓ Auto-enroll
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$2,598Employer $ per active participant
$5,964Employee $ saved per active participant
0.26%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$126.3MNet plan assets, end of year
$59,100Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity40.2 / 5080th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost11.6 / 2546th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving12.2 / 1581th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features10 / 10Auto-enrollment, Default investment
- Red-flag deductions-3 pts1 issue reported on the filing
Total score71 / 100 · Grade B
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Transportation & Warehousing plans with 500–2,499 active participants (392 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 80th |
| Lower admin cost | 46th |
| Employee saving | 81th |
| Peers that auto-enroll | 37% |
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Red flags from the filing
Corrective distributions: the plan refunded $2,660 in contributions, which usually means it failed annual nondiscrimination testing.
What to do if you're in this plan
- West Star Aviation, LLC West Star Aviation put in about $2,598 per active participant, more than the typical peer ($1,070). 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.
- 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 | $4,919,901 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $11,296,368 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $2,035,772 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $296,363 |
| Contract administrator fees | $296,363 |
| Benefits paid out | $10,365,734 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $105.1M / $126.3M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 1,803 / 1,985 |
| Participants with account balances | 2,137 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Yes |
| Auditor | Armanino, LLP |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Principal Life Insurance Company | $296,363 reported compensation |
| Wells Fargo Advisors Fin Network | $100,000 reported compensation |
| Morningstar Investment Management L | $0 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20251014141203NAL0001520643001, received 2025-10-14, EIN 84-1056824, plan #001, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.