Tricore Reference Laboratories 401(k) Review & Grade
Tricore Reference Laboratories 401(k) Plan
Albuquerque, NMHealth Care & Social Assistance1,487 active participantsPlan year 2024✓ Auto-enroll
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$2,273Employer $ per active participant
$5,101Employee $ saved per active participant
0.26%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$117.1MNet plan assets, end of year
$57,426Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity37.6 / 5075th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost11.4 / 2546th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving12.0 / 1580th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features10 / 10Auto-enrollment, Default investment
- Red-flag deductions-13 pts2 issues reported on the filing
Total score58 / 100 · Grade C
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Health Care & Social Assistance plans with 500–2,499 active participants (1,427 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 75th |
| Lower admin cost | 46th |
| Employee saving | 80th |
| Peers that auto-enroll | 36% |
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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 ($6,906 reported). That's money taken from paychecks that sat with the employer longer than the law allows.
Corrective distributions: the plan refunded $1,074 in contributions, which usually means it failed annual nondiscrimination testing.
What to do if you're in this plan
- Tricore Reference Laboratories put in about $2,273 per active participant, more than the typical peer ($976). 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 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 | $3,379,282 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $7,584,946 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $115,129 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $293,877 |
| Contract administrator fees | $227,051 |
| Investment advisory & management fees | $50,000 |
| Benefits paid out | $13,619,940 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $107.6M / $117.1M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 1,470 / 1,504 |
| Participants with account balances | 2,039 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Yes |
| Auditor | Cliftonlarsonallen LLP |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Lincoln National Corporation | $227,051 reported compensation |
| RBC Wealth Management | $50,000 reported compensation |
| Clifton Larson Allen, LLP | $16,826 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20251013160941NAL0002365040001, received 2025-10-13, EIN 85-0444170, plan #001, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.