Brandt Holdings Company 401(k) Review & Grade
Brandt Holdings Company 401(k) Plan
Fargo, NDWholesale Trade1,868 active participantsPlan year 2024
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$1,003Employer $ per active participant
$3,747Employee $ saved per active participant
0.18%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$112.9MNet plan assets, end of year
$92,572Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity11.9 / 5024th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost14.6 / 2558th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving5.2 / 1535th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features0 / 10No auto-enrollment or default investment reported
- Red-flag deductions-13 pts2 issues reported on the filing
Total score19 / 100 · Grade F
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Wholesale Trade plans with 500–2,499 active participants (603 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 24th |
| Lower admin cost | 58th |
| Employee saving | 35th |
| Peers that auto-enroll | 53% |
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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 ($1,111 reported). That's money taken from paychecks that sat with the employer longer than the law allows.
Corrective distributions: the plan refunded $26,977 in contributions, which usually means it failed annual nondiscrimination testing.
What to do if you're in this plan
- Brandt Holdings put in about $1,003 per active participant, below the typical peer ($1,792). 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.
- 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 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 | $1,874,151 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $7,001,757 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $2,456,204 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $188,005 |
| Investment advisory & management fees | $30,522 |
| Benefits paid out | $9,989,285 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $98.7M / $112.9M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 2,024 / 1,713 |
| Participants with account balances | 1,220 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Not reported |
| Auditor | Eide Bailly LLP |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Alerus Financial, N.A. | $157,484 reported compensation |
| Alerus Investment Advisors | $30,522 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20250908074030NAL0032104752001, received 2025-09-08, EIN 45-0428402, plan #001, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.