Par Petroleum LLC 401(k) Review & Grade
Par Petroleum LLC Savings Plan
Houston, TXUtilities1,735 active participantsPlan year 2024
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$8,116Employer $ per active participant
$9,702Employee $ saved per active participant
0.12%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$247.9MNet plan assets, end of year
$156,610Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity35.1 / 5070th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost17.1 / 2569th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving5.5 / 1536th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features3 / 10Default investment
- Red-flag deductions-13 pts2 issues reported on the filing
Total score48 / 100 · Grade C
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Utilities plans with 500–2,499 active participants (75 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 70th |
| Lower admin cost | 69th |
| Employee saving | 36th |
| Peers that auto-enroll | 76% |
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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 ($2,670 reported). That's money taken from paychecks that sat with the employer longer than the law allows.
Corrective distributions: the plan refunded $79,570 in contributions, which usually means it failed annual nondiscrimination testing.
What to do if you're in this plan
- Par Petroleum put in about $8,116 per active participant, more than the typical peer ($6,264). 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.
- 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.
- 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 | $14,081,425 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $16,833,521 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $2,211,005 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $280,774 |
| Contract administrator fees | $280,774 |
| Benefits paid out | $17,346,224 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $202.9M / $247.9M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 1,696 / 1,774 |
| Participants with account balances | 1,583 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Not reported |
| Auditor | Armanino LLP |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Principal Life Insurance Company | $280,773 reported compensation |
| Creative Planning, Inc. | $126,982 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20251009092809NAL0006754209001, received 2025-10-09, EIN 46-2908645, plan #001, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.