Variety Wholesalers, Inc. 401(k) Review & Grade
Variety Wholesalers, Inc. Retirement Savings 401(k) Plan
Henderson, NCRetail Trade9,670 active participantsPlan year 2024
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$18Employer $ per active participant
$147Employee $ saved per active participant
0.31%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$31.2MNet plan assets, end of year
–Average balance per account (account count looks misreported)
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity2.5 / 505th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost5.6 / 2522th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving0.0 / 150th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features3 / 10Default investment
- Red-flag deductions-13 pts2 issues reported on the filing
Total score0 / 100 · Grade F
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Retail Trade plans with 2,500–9,999 active participants (183 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 5th |
| Lower admin cost | 22th |
| Employee saving | 0th |
| Peers that auto-enroll | 42% |
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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 ($826 reported). That's money taken from paychecks that sat with the employer longer than the law allows.
Corrective distributions: the plan refunded $134,541 in contributions, which usually means it failed annual nondiscrimination testing.
What to do if you're in this plan
- Variety Wholesalers put in about $18 per active participant, below the typical peer ($650). Any match is still an instant return, so contribute enough to get all of it.
- 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 (0.31% of assets) are well above similar-size plans (0.12%). 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 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 | $177,603 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $1,424,786 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $124,677 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $90,520 |
| Contract administrator fees | $90,520 |
| Benefits paid out | $2,906,427 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $28.1M / $31.2M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 9,070 / 10,269 |
| Participants with account balances | 817 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Not reported |
| Auditor | Bdo USA, P.C. |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Principal Life Insurance Company | $90,520 reported compensation |
| Wilshire Advisors LLC | $0 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20251014120322NAL0001347379001, received 2025-10-14, EIN 56-0653322, plan #002, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.