Salamander Farms, L.L.C. 401(k) Review & Grade
Salamander 401(k) Retirement Plan
The Plains, VAArts, Entertainment & Recreation1,191 active participantsPlan year 2024✓ Auto-enroll
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$965Employer $ per active participant
$3,575Employee $ saved per active participant
0.28%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$41.3MNet plan assets, end of year
$23,267Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity24.3 / 5049th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost10.8 / 2543th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving11.0 / 1573th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features10 / 10Auto-enrollment, Default investment
- Red-flag deductions-10 pts1 issue reported on the filing
Total score46 / 100 · Grade C
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Arts, Entertainment & Recreation plans with 500–2,499 active participants (225 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 49th |
| Lower admin cost | 43th |
| Employee saving | 73th |
| Peers that auto-enroll | 38% |
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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 ($1,642,093 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
- Salamander Farms put in about $965 per active participant, below the typical peer ($995). 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.
- 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 | $1,148,929 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $4,257,618 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $481,494 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $107,611 |
| Investment advisory & management fees | $8,500 |
| Benefits paid out | $4,626,449 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $35.6M / $41.3M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 1,195 / 1,187 |
| Participants with account balances | 1,774 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Yes |
| Auditor | Cherry Bekaert, LLP |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Empower Annuity Insurance Company O | $98,026 reported compensation |
| Rocation Investment Advisors LLC | $9,585 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20260102173401NAL0002873282001, received 2026-01-02, EIN 01-0636881, plan #001, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.