Gates, Hudson & Associates, Inc. 401(k) Review & Grade
Gates, Hudson & Associates Employee 401(k) Plan
Fairfax, VAReal Estate & Rental608 active participantsPlan year 2024✓ Auto-enroll
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$854Employer $ per active participant
$4,206Employee $ saved per active participant
0.56%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$24.3MNet plan assets, end of year
$31,296Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity18.6 / 5037th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost4.9 / 2519th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving8.5 / 1557th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features10 / 10Auto-enrollment, Default investment
- Red-flag deductions-10 pts1 issue reported on the filing
Total score32 / 100 · Grade D
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Real Estate & Rental plans with 500–2,499 active participants (291 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 37th |
| Lower admin cost | 19th |
| Employee saving | 57th |
| Peers that auto-enroll | 47% |
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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 ($105,416 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
- Gates, Hudson & Associates put in about $854 per active participant, below the typical peer ($1,279). 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 (0.56% of assets) are well above similar-size plans (0.23%). 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 | $519,612 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $2,559,176 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $765,674 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $128,355 |
| Contract administrator fees | $89,666 |
| Investment advisory & management fees | $38,689 |
| Benefits paid out | $2,909,240 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $21.2M / $24.3M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 573 / 644 |
| Participants with account balances | 775 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Yes |
| Auditor | Pension Assurance LLP |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Principal Life Insurance Company | $89,666 reported compensation |
| Kestra Advisory Services, LLC | $38,734 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20250716104110NAL0006639634001, received 2025-07-16, EIN 54-1150334, plan #001, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.