Headwater Companies, LLC 401(k) Review & Grade
Headwater Companies, LLC 401(k) Plan
Fort Wayne, INWholesale Trade895 active participantsPlan year 2024✓ Auto-enroll
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$2,457Employer $ per active participant
$4,595Employee $ saved per active participant
0.25%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$60.8MNet plan assets, end of year
$59,001Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity32.6 / 5065th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost12.0 / 2548th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving7.3 / 1548th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features10 / 10Auto-enrollment, Default investment
- Red-flag deductions-10 pts1 issue reported on the filing
Total score52 / 100 · Grade C
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Wholesale Trade plans with 500–2,499 active participants (603 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 65th |
| Lower admin cost | 48th |
| Employee saving | 48th |
| Peers that auto-enroll | 53% |
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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 ($1,632 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
- Headwater Companies put in about $2,457 per active participant, more than the typical peer ($1,792). 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.
- 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 | $2,199,326 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $4,112,369 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $405,816 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $140,124 |
| Contract administrator fees | $108,856 |
| Investment advisory & management fees | $19,518 |
| Benefits paid out | $5,514,146 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $53.5M / $60.8M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 939 / 851 |
| Participants with account balances | 1,031 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Yes |
| Auditor | GJC Cpa's & Advisors |
| Employer stock held by plan | $1,256,591 |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Principal Life Insurance Company | $112,306 reported compensation |
| GJC Cpa's & Advisors | $11,750 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20250701105205NAL0012065121001, received 2025-07-01, EIN 20-0319914, plan #001, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.