Computer and Engineering Services, Inc. 401(k) Review & Grade
Technical Services Retirement Plan
Kalamazoo, MIProfessional, Scientific & Technical Services3,118 active participantsPlan year 2024
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$106Employer $ per active participant
$824Employee $ saved per active participant
1.54%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$29.2MNet plan assets, end of year
–Average balance per account (account count looks misreported)
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity4.8 / 5010th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost0.5 / 252th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving1.0 / 157th 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 score0 / 100 · Grade F
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Professional, Scientific & Technical Services plans with 2,500–9,999 active participants (231 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 10th |
| Lower admin cost | 2th |
| Employee saving | 7th |
| Peers that auto-enroll | 47% |
Get the monthly 401(k) report card
The best and worst plans, new grades as filings post. One email a month, no spam.
Red flags from the filing
Late deposits: the filing says some employee contributions were not sent to the plan on time ($307,397 reported). That's money taken from paychecks that sat with the employer longer than the law allows.
Corrective distributions: the plan refunded $21,561 in contributions, which usually means it failed annual nondiscrimination testing.
What to do if you're in this plan
- Computer and Engineering Services put in about $106 per active participant, below the typical peer ($2,951). 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.
- Direct plan expenses (1.54% of assets) are well above similar-size plans (0.12%). Check your annual fee disclosure, choose low-cost index funds if you can, and think about whether savings beyond the match belong in an IRA.
- 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 | $329,627 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $2,569,895 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $409,771 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $434,405 |
| Contract administrator fees | $63,701 |
| Investment advisory & management fees | $307,242 |
| Benefits paid out | $4,478,549 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $27.3M / $29.2M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 3,642 / 2,593 |
| Participants with account balances | 1,176 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Not reported |
| Auditor | Bdo USA, P.C. |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Nationwide | $223,614 reported compensation |
| Sigma Financial Corporation | $148,631 reported compensation |
| Rehmann Financial Group | $102,172 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20250814071916NAL0008900531001, received 2025-08-14, EIN 38-2512681, plan #001, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.