Riverside Research Institute 401(k) Review & Grade
Riverside Research Institute Tax-Sheltered Retirement Income Plan
Arlington, VAProfessional, Scientific & Technical Services730 active participantsPlan year 2024
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$0Employer $ per active participant
$10,385Employee $ saved per active participant
0.20%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$105.6MNet plan assets, end of year
$129,744Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity0.0 / 500th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost13.4 / 2554th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving9.4 / 1563th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features3 / 10Default investment
- Red-flag deductions-8 pts2 issues reported on the filing
Total score18 / 100 · Grade F
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Professional, Scientific & Technical Services plans with 500–2,499 active participants (1,469 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 0th |
| Lower admin cost | 54th |
| Employee saving | 63th |
| Peers that auto-enroll | 48% |
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Red flags from the filing
Auditor disclaimer: the auditor issued a disclaimer of opinion.
Corrective distributions: the plan refunded $11,245 in contributions, which usually means it failed annual nondiscrimination testing.
What to do if you're in this plan
- This plan reported $0 in employer contributions for 2024. Some employers put their money into a separate plan, so check any other plans listed below and ask HR. If there really is no company money, you still get the tax break. Compare the plan's fees and funds with an IRA before deciding where your next dollar goes.
- 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 | $0 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $7,575,515 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $1,839,432 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $207,142 |
| Investment advisory & management fees | $79,848 |
| Benefits paid out | $14,374,371 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $97.6M / $105.6M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 712 / 747 |
| Participants with account balances | 814 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Not reported |
| Auditor | Bdo |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Empower Life & Annuity Insurance Co | $127,294 reported compensation |
| Riverside Research Institute | $79,848 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20251002130746NAL0000353235001, received 2025-10-02, EIN 13-2593244, plan #002, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.