The F.a. Bartlett Tree Expert Co. 401(k) Review & Grade
Bartlett Tree 401(k) Plan
Stamford, CTAdministrative, Support & Staffing Services2,740 active participantsPlan year 2024
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$639Employer $ per active participant
$4,139Employee $ saved per active participant
0.04%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$201.4MNet plan assets, end of year
$107,432Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity31.0 / 5062th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost20.4 / 2582th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving12.0 / 1580th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features3 / 10Default investment
Total score66 / 100 · Grade B
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Administrative, Support & Staffing Services plans with 2,500–9,999 active participants (125 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 62th |
| Lower admin cost | 82th |
| Employee saving | 80th |
| Peers that auto-enroll | 22% |
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Red flags from the filing
No red flags were reported on this filing's compliance questions.
What to do if you're in this plan
- F.a. Bartlett Tree Expert put in about $639 per active participant, more than the typical peer ($342). 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.
- 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 | $1,749,484 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $11,337,563 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $749,317 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $81,047 |
| Investment advisory & management fees | $78,965 |
| Benefits paid out | $15,499,776 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $171.2M / $201.4M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 2,572 / 2,907 |
| Participants with account balances | 1,875 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Not reported |
| Auditor | Lilling & Company LLP |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Strategic Advisors, Inc. | $78,965 reported compensation |
| Fidelity Investments Institutional | $2,081 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20250919135259NAL0003152595001, received 2025-09-19, EIN 06-0254490, plan #001, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.