Smartstop Storage Advisors, LLC 401(k) Review & Grade
Smartstop Storage Advisors 401(k) Plan
Ladera Ranch, CAReal Estate & Rental500 active participantsPlan year 2024
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$1,084Employer $ per active participant
$2,243Employee $ saved per active participant
0.29%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$11.8MNet plan assets, end of year
–Average balance per account (account count looks misreported)
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity22.1 / 5044th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost10.3 / 2541th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving4.4 / 1529th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features3 / 10Default investment
- Red-flag deductions-10 pts1 issue reported on the filing
Total score30 / 100 · Grade D
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Real Estate & Rental plans with 500–2,499 active participants (291 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 44th |
| Lower admin cost | 41th |
| Employee saving | 29th |
| Peers that auto-enroll | 47% |
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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 ($250 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
- Smartstop Storage Advisors put in about $1,084 per active participant, below the typical peer ($1,279). 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 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 | $542,087 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $1,121,483 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $230,442 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $30,260 |
| Investment advisory & management fees | $1,040 |
| Benefits paid out | $342,352 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $8.8M / $11.8M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 426 / 574 |
| Participants with account balances | 194 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Not reported |
| Auditor | Haskell White LLP |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Fidelity Investments Institutional | $29,220 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20250926143310NAL0004056899001, received 2025-09-26, EIN 83-4447046, plan #001, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.