Carlton Fields, P.A. 401(k) Review & Grade
Profit Sharing and 401(k) Plan for Employees of Carlton Fields
Tampa, FLProfessional, Scientific & Technical Services672 active participantsPlan year 2024✓ Auto-enroll
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$1,082Employer $ per active participant
$14,573Employee $ saved per active participant
0.06%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$315.7MNet plan assets, end of year
$347,281Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity10.1 / 5020th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost21.1 / 2584th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving13.0 / 1587th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features10 / 10Auto-enrollment, Default investment
- Red-flag deductions-3 pts1 issue reported on the filing
Total score51 / 100 · Grade C
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Professional, Scientific & Technical Services plans with 500–2,499 active participants (1,469 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 20th |
| Lower admin cost | 84th |
| Employee saving | 87th |
| Peers that auto-enroll | 48% |
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Red flags from the filing
Corrective distributions: the plan refunded $26,757 in contributions, which usually means it failed annual nondiscrimination testing.
What to do if you're in this plan
- Carlton Fields, P.A. put in about $1,082 per active participant, below the typical peer ($3,082). 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 auto-enrolls employees. Check your default contribution rate. Defaults are often lower than what it takes to get the full match.
- 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 | $727,446 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $9,800,370 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $942,263 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $183,086 |
| Contract administrator fees | $2,135 |
| Investment advisory & management fees | $88,755 |
| Benefits paid out | $36,609,135 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $293.5M / $315.7M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 679 / 666 |
| Participants with account balances | 909 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Yes |
| Auditor | Assurance Dimensions |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Schwab Retirement Plan Services,inc | $102,791 reported compensation |
| Capfinancial Partners LLC | $43,035 reported compensation |
| BKS Financial Investments LLC | $16,000 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20251114151049NAL0004660416001, received 2025-11-14, EIN 59-1233896, plan #002, plan year 2024-02-01 to 2025-01-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.