Brown and Caldwell 401(k) Review & Grade
Brown and Caldwell Savings Plan
Lakewood, COProfessional, Scientific & Technical Services2,206 active participantsPlan year 2024
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$3,716Employer $ per active participant
$12,173Employee $ saved per active participant
0.08%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$574.9MNet plan assets, end of year
$208,602Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity30.1 / 5060th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost19.5 / 2578th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving11.3 / 1575th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features0 / 10No auto-enrollment or default investment reported
Total score61 / 100 · Grade B
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Professional, Scientific & Technical Services plans with 500–2,499 active participants (1,469 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 60th |
| Lower admin cost | 78th |
| Employee saving | 75th |
| Peers that auto-enroll | 48% |
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Red flags from the filing
No red flags were reported on this filing's compliance questions.
What to do if you're in this plan
- Brown and Caldwell put in about $3,716 per active participant, more than the typical peer ($3,082). 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.
- 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 | $8,200,033 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $26,859,737 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $8,752,250 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $449,359 |
| Investment advisory & management fees | $267,325 |
| Other admin expenses | $600 |
| Benefits paid out | $44,439,615 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $498.7M / $574.9M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 2,133 / 2,280 |
| Participants with account balances | 2,756 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Not reported |
| Auditor | Baker Tilly, US LLP |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Empower Advisory Group, LLC | $267,325 reported compensation |
| Empower Annuity Insurance Company | $180,323 reported compensation |
| Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. | $1,952 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20250728190453NAL0000976179001, received 2025-07-28, EIN 94-1446346, plan #005, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.