Empirical Technology, Inc. 401(k) Review & Grade
Empirical 401(k) and Profit Sharing Plan
Dakota Dunes, SDProfessional, Scientific & Technical Services1,214 active participantsPlan year 2024✓ Auto-enroll
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$3,503Employer $ per active participant
$4,769Employee $ saved per active participant
0.15%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$84.0MNet plan assets, end of year
$64,701Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity28.8 / 5058th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost15.7 / 2563th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving3.7 / 1525th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features10 / 10Auto-enrollment, Default investment
Total score58 / 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 | 58th |
| Lower admin cost | 63th |
| Employee saving | 25th |
| 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
- Empirical Technology put in about $3,503 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.
- 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 | $4,254,698 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $5,792,337 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $83,706 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $120,981 |
| Contract administrator fees | $44,526 |
| Investment advisory & management fees | $49,985 |
| Benefits paid out | $4,475,899 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $76.0M / $84.0M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 1,191 / 1,238 |
| Participants with account balances | 1,298 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Yes |
| Auditor | Forvis Mazars LLP |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Hays Financial Group | $49,985 reported compensation |
| Principal Life Insurance Company | $44,526 reported compensation |
| Forvis Mazars | $15,335 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20251006073701NAL0005978016001, received 2025-10-06, EIN 94-2740498, plan #001, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.