Curriculum Associates, LLC 401(k) Review & Grade
Curriculum Associates 401(k) Plan
North Billerica, MAInformation2,353 active participantsPlan year 2024
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$3,621Employer $ per active participant
$11,083Employee $ saved per active participant
0.02%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$263.7MNet plan assets, end of year
$105,751Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity31.7 / 5063th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost23.9 / 2596th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving9.9 / 1566th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features3 / 10Default investment
- Red-flag deductions-13 pts2 issues reported on the filing
Total score56 / 100 · Grade C
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Information plans with 500–2,499 active participants (310 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 63th |
| Lower admin cost | 96th |
| Employee saving | 66th |
| Peers that auto-enroll | 59% |
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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 ($7,967 reported). That's money taken from paychecks that sat with the employer longer than the law allows.
Corrective distributions: the plan refunded $2,462 in contributions, which usually means it failed annual nondiscrimination testing.
What to do if you're in this plan
- Curriculum Associates put in about $3,621 per active participant, more than the typical peer ($2,829). 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 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 | $8,519,552 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $26,079,201 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $4,915,535 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $45,812 |
| Investment advisory & management fees | $20,079 |
| Benefits paid out | $15,391,159 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $208.3M / $263.7M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 2,261 / 2,445 |
| Participants with account balances | 2,494 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Not reported |
| Auditor | Caron & Bletzer, PLLC |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Fidelity Investments Institutional | $25,883 reported compensation |
| Strategic Advisors, Inc. | $20,079 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20250902105258NAL0024338992001, received 2025-09-02, EIN 26-3954988, plan #001, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.