Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. 401(k) Review & Grade
Vinson & Elkins L. L. P. Retirement Plan B
Houston, TXProfessional, Scientific & Technical Services530 active participantsPlan year 2024
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$13,979Employer $ per active participant
$8,516Employee $ saved per active participant
0.18%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$308.2MNet plan assets, end of year
$360,919Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity48.4 / 5097th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost14.2 / 2557th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving6.9 / 1546th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features3 / 10Default investment
Total score73 / 100 · Grade B
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Professional, Scientific & Technical Services plans with 500–2,499 active participants (1,469 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 97th |
| Lower admin cost | 57th |
| Employee saving | 46th |
| 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
- Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. put in about $13,979 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.
- 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 | $7,408,980 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $4,513,576 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $1,212,280 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $544,086 |
| Other admin expenses | $544,086 |
| Benefits paid out | $28,175,118 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $284.2M / $308.2M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 537 / 523 |
| Participants with account balances | 854 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Not reported |
| Auditor | Pricewaterhousecoopers LLP |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Mercer Investment Management | $164,806 reported compensation |
| Vanguard Advisers Inc. | $109,655 reported compensation |
| Pricewaterhousecoopers LLP | $83,880 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20250926152642NAL0008720049001, received 2025-09-26, EIN 74-1183015, plan #003, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.