Northwest Restaurants, Inc 401(k) Review & Grade
Retirement Income Security Plan-Northwest Restaurants, Inc
Woodinville, WAAccommodation & Food Services3,060 active participantsPlan year 2024
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$210Employer $ per active participant
$381Employee $ saved per active participant
0.59%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$11.4MNet plan assets, end of year
–Average balance per account (account count looks misreported)
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity23.3 / 5047th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost2.5 / 2510th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving4.5 / 1530th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features3 / 10Default investment
- Red-flag deductions-10 pts1 issue reported on the filing
Total score23 / 100 · Grade F
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Accommodation & Food Services plans with 2,500–9,999 active participants (104 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 47th |
| Lower admin cost | 10th |
| Employee saving | 30th |
| Peers that auto-enroll | 15% |
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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 ($149,732 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
- Northwest Restaurants put in about $210 per active participant, below the typical peer ($244). 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 (0.59% of assets) are well above similar-size plans (0.12%). 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 | $641,223 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $1,166,731 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | – |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $61,814 |
| Contract administrator fees | $57,797 |
| Investment advisory & management fees | $2,054 |
| Benefits paid out | $849,736 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $9.4M / $11.4M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 3,060 / 3,061 |
| Participants with account balances | 314 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Not reported |
| Auditor | Bas Partners |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Ameritas Life Insurance Corp | $32,085 reported compensation |
| Healthequity Retirement Services, L | $25,712 reported compensation |
| Matrix Trust Company | $1,963 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20251013143543NAL0000723859001, received 2025-10-13, EIN 91-1696017, plan #003, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.