Northwest Hardwoods, Inc. 401(k) Review & Grade
Northwest Hardwoods, Inc. 401(k) Plan
Tacoma, WAManufacturing1,096 active participantsPlan year 2024
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$2,082Employer $ per active participant
$3,961Employee $ saved per active participant
0.22%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$92.2MNet plan assets, end of year
$67,961Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity22.6 / 5045th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost12.8 / 2551th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving5.4 / 1536th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features3 / 10Default investment
Total score44 / 100 · Grade D
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Manufacturing plans with 500–2,499 active participants (2,376 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 45th |
| Lower admin cost | 51th |
| Employee saving | 36th |
| Peers that auto-enroll | 59% |
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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
- Northwest Hardwoods put in about $2,082 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.
- 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.
- 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 | $2,282,329 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $4,341,792 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $120,955 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $195,696 |
| Other admin expenses | $195,696 |
| Benefits paid out | $11,290,519 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $84.8M / $92.2M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 1,172 / 1,020 |
| Participants with account balances | 1,357 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Not reported |
| Auditor | Moss Adams |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| The Vanguard Group, Inc. | $140,817 reported compensation |
| Vanguard Advisers Inc. | $54,879 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20251009114610NAL0003875587001, received 2025-10-09, EIN 45-2065401, plan #001, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.