Help USA, Inc. 401(k) Review & Grade
Help USA, Inc. Employees' Retirement Plan
New York, NYOther Services1,122 active participantsPlan year 2024✓ Auto-enroll
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$1,613Employer $ per active participant
$2,754Employee $ saved per active participant
0.94%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$37.6MNet plan assets, end of year
$19,941Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity30.9 / 5062th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost1.8 / 257th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving8.1 / 1554th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features10 / 10Auto-enrollment, Default investment
- Red-flag deductions-10 pts1 issue reported on the filing
Total score41 / 100 · Grade D
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Other Services plans with 500–2,499 active participants (333 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 62th |
| Lower admin cost | 7th |
| Employee saving | 54th |
| Peers that auto-enroll | 40% |
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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 ($307,866 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
- Help USA put in about $1,613 per active participant, more than the typical peer ($1,257). 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 (0.94% 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 | $1,809,330 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $3,090,473 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $169,484 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $344,712 |
| Contract administrator fees | $344,712 |
| Benefits paid out | $6,737,402 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $36.0M / $37.6M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 1,097 / 1,147 |
| Participants with account balances | 1,885 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Yes |
| Auditor | Baker Tilly US, LLP |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Principal Life Insurance Company | $240,634 reported compensation |
| Prime Pensions, Inc. | $116,537 reported compensation |
| MML Investors Services LLC | $64,820 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20251014184204NAL0001766579001, received 2025-10-14, EIN 13-3922973, plan #001, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.