Encore Group (USA), LLC 401(k) Review & Grade
Encore Group (USA) LLC Retirement Savings Plan
Schiller Park, ILReal Estate & Rental9,772 active participantsPlan year 2024✓ Auto-enroll
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$1,201Employer $ per active participant
$3,523Employee $ saved per active participant
0.19%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$453.2MNet plan assets, end of year
$38,864Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity25.5 / 5051th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost8.9 / 2536th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving8.6 / 1557th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features10 / 10Auto-enrollment, Default investment
- Red-flag deductions-10 pts1 issue reported on the filing
Total score43 / 100 · Grade D
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Real Estate & Rental plans with 2,500–9,999 active participants (50 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 51th |
| Lower admin cost | 36th |
| Employee saving | 57th |
| Peers that auto-enroll | 46% |
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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 ($132 reported). That's money taken from paychecks that sat with the employer longer than the law allows.
What to do if you're in this plan
- Encore Group (USA) put in about $1,201 per active participant, more than the typical peer ($1,141). 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.
- Direct plan expenses (0.19% 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 auto-enrolls employees. Check your default contribution rate. Defaults are often lower than what it takes to get the full match.
- 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 | $11,732,357 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $34,423,702 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $2,645,684 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $815,539 |
| Investment advisory & management fees | $26,937 |
| Benefits paid out | $32,652,902 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $385.3M / $453.2M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 9,014 / 10,531 |
| Participants with account balances | 11,662 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Yes |
| Auditor | Sikich CPA LLC |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Empower Annuity Insurance Company | $657,852 reported compensation |
| Gallagher Benefit Services Inc DBA | $80,000 reported compensation |
| P&m Holding Group LLP DBA Plante | $43,500 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20250916112959NAL0002450688001, received 2025-09-16, EIN 13-4025666, plan #003, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.