Mercedes-Benz Vans, LLC 401(k) Review & Grade
Mercedes-Benz Vans, LLC 401(k) Plan
Ladson, SCProfessional, Scientific & Technical Services1,626 active participantsPlan year 2024✓ Auto-enroll
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$3,328Employer $ per active participant
$4,563Employee $ saved per active participant
0.49%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$54.0MNet plan assets, end of year
$20,674Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity27.3 / 5055th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost6.0 / 2524th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving3.5 / 1523th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features10 / 10Auto-enrollment, Default investment
Total score47 / 100 · Grade C
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Professional, Scientific & Technical Services plans with 500–2,499 active participants (1,469 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 55th |
| Lower admin cost | 24th |
| Employee saving | 23th |
| Peers that auto-enroll | 48% |
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Red flags from the filing
No red flags were reported on this filing's compliance questions.
What to do if you're in this plan
- Mercedes-Benz Vans put in about $3,328 per active participant, more than the typical peer ($3,082). 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 (0.49% 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.
- 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 | $5,409,487 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $7,417,169 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $475,362 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $234,980 |
| Contract administrator fees | $167,615 |
| Investment advisory & management fees | $40,515 |
| Other admin expenses | $26,850 |
| Benefits paid out | $7,589,078 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $42.8M / $54.0M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 1,598 / 1,653 |
| Participants with account balances | 2,612 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Yes |
| Auditor | Webster & Rogers LLP |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Voya Retirement Insurance & Annuity | $224,771 reported compensation |
| Voya Retirement Advisors, LLC | $10,488 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20251002140607NAL0000588017001, received 2025-10-02, EIN 16-1644464, plan #001, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.