Paramount Global 401(k) Review & Grade
Paramount Global 401(k) Plan (fka Viacomcbs 401(k) Plan)
New York, NYInformation16,545 active participantsPlan year 2024✓ Auto-enroll
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$8,177Employer $ per active participant
$11,673Employee $ saved per active participant
0.12%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$6.4BNet plan assets, end of year
$200,969Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity43.1 / 5086th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost9.3 / 2537th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving8.8 / 1559th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features10 / 10Auto-enrollment, Default investment
- Red-flag deductions-13 pts2 issues reported on the filing
Total score58 / 100 · Grade C
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Information plans with 10,000+ active participants (30 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 86th |
| Lower admin cost | 37th |
| Employee saving | 59th |
| Peers that auto-enroll | 60% |
Red flags from the filing
Late deposits: the filing says some employee contributions were not sent to the plan on time ($1,681 reported). That's money taken from paychecks that sat with the employer longer than the law allows.
Corrective distributions: the plan refunded $2,543 in contributions, which usually means it failed annual nondiscrimination testing.
What to do if you're in this plan
- Paramount Global put in about $8,177 per active participant, more than the typical peer ($5,217). 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 auto-enrolls employees. Check your default contribution rate. Defaults are often lower than what it takes to get the full match.
- 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 | $135,285,248 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $193,131,477 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $17,125,354 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $7,296,603 |
| Investment advisory & management fees | $5,810,289 |
| Other admin expenses | $876,222 |
| Benefits paid out | $916,647,290 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $6.1B / $6.4B |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 17,755 / 15,335 |
| Participants with account balances | 31,614 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Yes |
| Auditor | Pricewaterhousecoopers LLP |
| Employer stock held by plan | $51,422,189 |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Financial Engines | $2,349,175 reported compensation |
| Fidelity Investments Institutional | $582,244 reported compensation |
| State Street Global Advisors | $100,000 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20251015153202NAL0005291153001, received 2025-10-15, EIN 04-2949533, plan #002, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.
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