Williams-Sonoma, Inc. 401(k) Review & Grade
Williams-Sonoma, Inc. 401(k) Plan
San Francisco, CARetail Trade18,544 active participantsPlan year 2024
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$567Employer $ per active participant
$1,935Employee $ saved per active participant
0.08%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$797.6MNet plan assets, end of year
$65,165Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity21.1 / 5042th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost12.8 / 2551th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving9.1 / 1561th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features0 / 10No auto-enrollment or default investment reported
- Red-flag deductions-13 pts2 issues reported on the filing
Total score30 / 100 · Grade D
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Retail Trade plans with 10,000+ active participants (124 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 42th |
| Lower admin cost | 51th |
| Employee saving | 61th |
| Peers that auto-enroll | 32% |
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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 ($5,240,299 reported). That's money taken from paychecks that sat with the employer longer than the law allows.
Corrective distributions: the plan refunded $8,852 in contributions, which usually means it failed annual nondiscrimination testing.
What to do if you're in this plan
- Williams-Sonoma put in about $567 per active participant, below the typical peer ($689). 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.
- 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 | $10,512,077 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $35,892,282 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $4,012,956 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $593,437 |
| Investment advisory & management fees | $63,933 |
| Benefits paid out | $64,617,822 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $629.0M / $797.6M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 18,752 / 18,337 |
| Participants with account balances | 12,240 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Not reported |
| Auditor | Crowe, LLP |
| Employer stock held by plan | $216,879,923 |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Schwab Retirement Plan Services,inc | $587,557 reported compensation |
| Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. | $3,002 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20251027134349NAL0009724704001, received 2025-10-27, EIN 94-2203880, plan #001, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.