Windstream Services LLC 401(k) Review & Grade
Windstream 401(k) Plan
Little Rock, ARInformation9,016 active participantsPlan year 2024✓ Auto-enroll
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$2,623Employer $ per active participant
$5,488Employee $ saved per active participant
0.05%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$1.3BNet plan assets, end of year
$126,184Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity16.9 / 5034th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost19.8 / 2579th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving4.1 / 1527th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features10 / 10Auto-enrollment, Default investment
- Red-flag deductions-10 pts1 issue reported on the filing
Total score41 / 100 · Grade D
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Information plans with 2,500–9,999 active participants (60 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 34th |
| Lower admin cost | 79th |
| Employee saving | 27th |
| Peers that auto-enroll | 63% |
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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 ($1,343 reported). That's money taken from paychecks that sat with the employer longer than the law allows.
What to do if you're in this plan
- Windstream Services put in about $2,623 per active participant, below the typical peer ($3,691). 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 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 | $23,648,324 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $49,482,139 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $2,928,224 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $603,297 |
| Benefits paid out | $177,742,584 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $1.2B / $1.3B |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 9,409 / 8,623 |
| Participants with account balances | 10,221 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Yes |
| Auditor | Hogan Taylor LLP |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner and S | $516,950 reported compensation |
| Thompson Hine LLP | $55,147 reported compensation |
| Hogantaylor LLP | $31,200 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20251002153123NAL0000654273001, received 2025-10-02, EIN 85-2049794, plan #009, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.