Trace3, LLC 401(k) Review & Grade
Trace3 401(k) Plan
Irvine, CAWholesale Trade1,262 active participantsPlan year 2024
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$3,524Employer $ per active participant
$12,682Employee $ saved per active participant
0.22%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$173.3MNet plan assets, end of year
$105,151Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity40.1 / 5080th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost12.9 / 2552th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving14.7 / 1598th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features3 / 10Default investment
- Red-flag deductions-10 pts1 issue reported on the filing
Total score61 / 100 · Grade B
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Wholesale Trade plans with 500–2,499 active participants (603 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 80th |
| Lower admin cost | 52th |
| Employee saving | 98th |
| Peers that auto-enroll | 53% |
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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 ($546,811 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
- Trace3 put in about $3,524 per active participant, more than the typical peer ($1,792). 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.
- 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 | $4,449,184 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $16,010,499 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $7,138,436 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $343,621 |
| Contract administrator fees | $47,826 |
| Investment advisory & management fees | $259,670 |
| Benefits paid out | $17,994,061 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $142.6M / $173.3M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 1,258 / 1,267 |
| Participants with account balances | 1,648 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Not reported |
| Auditor | Grant Thornton LLP |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Mma Securities LLC | $135,346 reported compensation |
| Empower Advisory Group, LLC | $124,324 reported compensation |
| Crossplans | $47,826 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20251013120210NAL0000568739004, received 2025-10-13, EIN 95-4876514, plan #001, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.