Benjamin F. Edwards & Co., Inc. 401(k) Review & Grade
Benjamin F. Edwards & Co., Inc. 401(k) Plan
Saint Louis, MOFinance & Insurance722 active participantsPlan year 2024✓ Auto-enroll
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$7,455Employer $ per active participant
$13,119Employee $ saved per active participant
0.18%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$125.6MNet plan assets, end of year
$164,663Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity43.0 / 5086th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost14.2 / 2557th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving12.8 / 1586th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features10 / 10Auto-enrollment, Default investment
- Red-flag deductions-10 pts1 issue reported on the filing
Total score70 / 100 · Grade B
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Finance & Insurance plans with 500–2,499 active participants (754 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 86th |
| Lower admin cost | 57th |
| Employee saving | 86th |
| Peers that auto-enroll | 62% |
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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 ($375 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
- Benjamin F. Edwards & Co. put in about $7,455 per active participant, more than the typical peer ($3,606). 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 | $5,386,439 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $9,478,163 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $7,624,363 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $205,715 |
| Contract administrator fees | $205,715 |
| Benefits paid out | $8,740,236 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $97.4M / $125.6M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 706 / 739 |
| Participants with account balances | 763 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Yes |
| Auditor | Uhy LLP |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Principal Life Insurance Company | $205,715 reported compensation |
| Creative Planning, Inc. | $79,401 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20251007114947NAL0011221714001, received 2025-10-07, EIN 26-3472087, plan #001, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.