Micropulse, Inc. 401(k) Review & Grade
Micropulse, Inc. 401(k) Plan
Columbia City, INManufacturing523 active participantsPlan year 2024
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$1,906Employer $ per active participant
$3,899Employee $ saved per active participant
0.47%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$28.7MNet plan assets, end of year
$47,971Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity20.6 / 5041th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost6.2 / 2525th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving5.2 / 1535th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features3 / 10Default investment
- Red-flag deductions-10 pts1 issue reported on the filing
Total score25 / 100 · Grade F
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Manufacturing plans with 500–2,499 active participants (2,376 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 41th |
| Lower admin cost | 25th |
| Employee saving | 35th |
| 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 ($8,603 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
- Micropulse put in about $1,906 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.
- Direct plan expenses (0.47% 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 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 | $996,675 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $2,039,237 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $235,342 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $124,670 |
| Contract administrator fees | $64,682 |
| Investment advisory & management fees | $59,413 |
| Other admin expenses | $575 |
| Benefits paid out | $1,711,071 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $24.2M / $28.7M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 517 / 529 |
| Participants with account balances | 599 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Not reported |
| Auditor | Baden, Gage & Schroeder |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Phillips Financial | $59,413 reported compensation |
| Voya Retirement Insurance and Annui | $54,774 reported compensation |
| Benefit Plans Plus, LLC | $23,173 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20250717102931NAL0000155346001, received 2025-07-17, EIN 35-1861872, plan #001, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.