Advantage Media Services, LLC 401(k) Review & Grade
Advantage Media Services, LLC 401(k) Plan
Valencia, CAAdministrative, Support & Staffing Services528 active participantsPlan year 2024
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$552Employer $ per active participant
$1,823Employee $ saved per active participant
0.38%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$14.8MNet plan assets, end of year
$34,717Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity22.6 / 5045th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost8.0 / 2532th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving7.5 / 1550th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features3 / 10Default investment
- Red-flag deductions-10 pts1 issue reported on the filing
Total score31 / 100 · Grade D
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Administrative, Support & Staffing Services plans with 500–2,499 active participants (401 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 45th |
| Lower admin cost | 32th |
| Employee saving | 50th |
| Peers that auto-enroll | 27% |
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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 ($315 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
- Advantage Media Services put in about $552 per active participant, below the typical peer ($712). 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 (0.38% of assets) are well above similar-size plans (0.23%). 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 | $291,454 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $962,649 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | – |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $55,161 |
| Investment advisory & management fees | $55,161 |
| Benefits paid out | $2,089,478 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $13.9M / $14.8M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 548 / 508 |
| Participants with account balances | 427 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Not reported |
| Auditor | Pension Assurance LLP |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Transamerica Retirement Solutions, | $55,161 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20251013171738NAL0002499568001, received 2025-10-13, EIN 47-0891145, plan #002, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.