Automatic Data Processing, Inc. 401(k) Review & Grade
Automatic Data Processing, Inc. Retirement and Savings Plan
Roseland, NJInformation34,536 active participantsPlan year 2024✓ Auto-enroll
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$5,537Employer $ per active participant
$10,254Employee $ saved per active participant
0.07%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$7.3BNet plan assets, end of year
$162,288Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity31.0 / 5062th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost14.8 / 2559th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving6.7 / 1545th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features10 / 10Auto-enrollment, Default investment
- Red-flag deductions-10 pts1 issue reported on the filing
Total score53 / 100 · Grade C
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Information plans with 10,000+ active participants (30 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 62th |
| Lower admin cost | 59th |
| Employee saving | 45th |
| Peers that auto-enroll | 60% |
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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 ($1,318 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
- Automatic Data Processing put in about $5,537 per active participant, more than the typical peer ($5,217). 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 | $191,237,493 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $354,130,009 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | – |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $4,706,950 |
| Investment advisory & management fees | $4,162,712 |
| Other admin expenses | $266,239 |
| Benefits paid out | $538,282,020 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $6.3B / $7.3B |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 34,557 / 34,516 |
| Participants with account balances | 44,749 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Yes |
| Auditor | Cohnreznick LLP |
| Employer stock held by plan | $7,718,705 |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| American Century Small Cap | $1,792,972 reported compensation |
| Wellington Trust Company NA | $1,568,883 reported compensation |
| Columbia Management Inv Advisers | $1,389,500 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20251015231159NAL0002943251001, received 2025-10-16, EIN 22-1467904, plan #002, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.