Francois Freres USA, Inc. 401(k) Review & Grade
Francois Freres USA, Inc. 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan
Napa, CAManufacturing596 active participantsPlan year 2024
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$1,224Employer $ per active participant
$2,256Employee $ saved per active participant
0.14%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$10.7MNet plan assets, end of year
$25,228Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity11.7 / 5023th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost16.3 / 2565th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving2.2 / 1515th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features3 / 10Default investment
- Red-flag deductions-10 pts1 issue reported on the filing
Total score23 / 100 · Grade F
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Manufacturing plans with 500–2,499 active participants (2,376 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 23th |
| Lower admin cost | 65th |
| Employee saving | 15th |
| 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 ($53,386 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
- Francois Freres USA put in about $1,224 per active participant, below the typical peer ($2,320). 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 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 | $728,715 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $1,343,585 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $46,517 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $13,429 |
| Contract administrator fees | $7,600 |
| Investment advisory & management fees | $4,233 |
| Other admin expenses | $1,596 |
| Benefits paid out | $691,847 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $8.4M / $10.7M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 547 / 644 |
| Participants with account balances | 426 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Not reported |
| Auditor | Lbmc, PC |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Three Bell Capital | $23,096 reported compensation |
| Voya Retirement Insurance & Annuity | $10,317 reported compensation |
| Voya Retirement Advisors, LLC | $3,114 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20251010105308NAL0004159331001, received 2025-10-10, EIN 94-2957402, plan #001, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.