The Guardian Foundation, Inc. 401(k) Review & Grade
The Guardian Foundation, Inc. Retirement Plan
Ooltewah, TNAdministrative, Support & Staffing Services1,507 active participantsPlan year 2024✓ Auto-enroll
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$2,330Employer $ per active participant
$2,188Employee $ saved per active participant
0.77%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$33.0MNet plan assets, end of year
$20,612Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity41.4 / 5083th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost2.7 / 2511th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving8.3 / 1555th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features10 / 10Auto-enrollment, Default investment
- Red-flag deductions-10 pts1 issue reported on the filing
Total score52 / 100 · Grade C
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Administrative, Support & Staffing Services plans with 500–2,499 active participants (401 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 83th |
| Lower admin cost | 11th |
| Employee saving | 55th |
| Peers that auto-enroll | 27% |
Get the monthly 401(k) report card
The best and worst plans, new grades as filings post. One email a month, no spam.
Red flags from the filing
Late deposits: the filing says some employee contributions were not sent to the plan on time ($59,789 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
- Guardian Foundation put in about $2,330 per active participant, more than the typical peer ($712). 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.
- Direct plan expenses (0.77% of assets) are well above similar-size plans (0.23%). Check your annual fee disclosure, choose low-cost index funds if you can, and think about whether savings beyond the match belong in an IRA.
- 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 | $3,511,252 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $3,297,274 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $262,468 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $236,705 |
| Investment advisory & management fees | $655 |
| Other admin expenses | $67,576 |
| Benefits paid out | $5,529,535 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $28.4M / $33.0M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 1,372 / 1,642 |
| Participants with account balances | 1,602 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Yes |
| Auditor | Cbiz Cpas, P.C. |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Fidelity Investments Institutional | $168,474 reported compensation |
| Merrill Lynch | $67,576 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20251015120628NAL0002376179001, received 2025-10-15, EIN 52-1623898, plan #010, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.