Venable LLP 401(k) Review & Grade
Venable LLP 401(k) Plan
Baltimore, MDProfessional, Scientific & Technical Services1,688 active participantsPlan year 2024✓ Auto-enroll
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$12,879Employer $ per active participant
$16,029Employee $ saved per active participant
0.06%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$765.8MNet plan assets, end of year
$318,952Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity47.5 / 5095th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost21.1 / 2585th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving13.8 / 1592th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features10 / 10Auto-enrollment, Default investment
Total score92 / 100 · Grade A
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Professional, Scientific & Technical Services plans with 500–2,499 active participants (1,469 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 95th |
| Lower admin cost | 85th |
| Employee saving | 92th |
| Peers that auto-enroll | 48% |
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Red flags from the filing
No red flags were reported on this filing's compliance questions.
What to do if you're in this plan
- Venable LLP put in about $12,879 per active participant, more than the typical peer ($3,082). 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.
- 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 | $21,739,004 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $27,057,474 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $41,570,965 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $411,910 |
| Investment advisory & management fees | $180,377 |
| Benefits paid out | $48,444,439 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $629.2M / $765.8M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 1,706 / 1,670 |
| Participants with account balances | 2,401 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Yes |
| Auditor | Sc&h Attest Services, P.C. |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Schwab Retirement Plan Services,inc | $222,670 reported compensation |
| Rocaton Investment Advisors LLC | $71,545 reported compensation |
| Stout Causey & Horning PA | $50,300 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20251030100119NAL0001138275001, received 2025-10-30, EIN 52-0517250, plan #003, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.