Tradebe Environmental Services 401(k) Review & Grade
Tradebe Environmental Services 401(k) Plan
Merrillville, INAdministrative, Support & Staffing Services878 active participantsPlan year 2024
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$1,003Employer $ per active participant
$5,422Employee $ saved per active participant
0.23%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$59.0MNet plan assets, end of year
$56,188Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity30.8 / 5062th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost12.5 / 2550th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving12.0 / 1580th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features3 / 10Default investment
- Red-flag deductions-13 pts2 issues reported on the filing
Total score45 / 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 | 62th |
| Lower admin cost | 50th |
| Employee saving | 80th |
| Peers that auto-enroll | 27% |
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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 ($5,523 reported). That's money taken from paychecks that sat with the employer longer than the law allows.
Corrective distributions: the plan refunded $15,630 in contributions, which usually means it failed annual nondiscrimination testing.
What to do if you're in this plan
- Tradebe Environmental Services put in about $1,003 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.
- 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 | $880,222 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $4,758,036 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $825,581 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $132,541 |
| Investment advisory & management fees | $55,367 |
| Benefits paid out | $11,826,266 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $56.3M / $59.0M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 879 / 876 |
| Participants with account balances | 1,050 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Not reported |
| Auditor | Smith & Howard PC |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Fidelity Investments Institutional | $65,675 reported compensation |
| Strategic Wealth Partners Group | $42,581 reported compensation |
| Strategic Advisors, Inc. | $12,785 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20251015122157NAL0009191266001, received 2025-10-15, EIN 01-0757921, plan #001, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.