Zones, LLC 401(k) Review & Grade
Zones, LLC 401(k) Plan
Auburn, WARetail Trade1,028 active participantsPlan year 2024✓ Auto-enroll
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$1,428Employer $ per active participant
$7,362Employee $ saved per active participant
0.11%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$109.1MNet plan assets, end of year
$59,156Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity36.8 / 5074th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost17.7 / 2571th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving14.5 / 1597th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features10 / 10Auto-enrollment, Default investment
- Red-flag deductions-13 pts2 issues reported on the filing
Total score66 / 100 · Grade B
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Retail Trade plans with 500–2,499 active participants (719 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 74th |
| Lower admin cost | 71th |
| Employee saving | 97th |
| Peers that auto-enroll | 48% |
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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 ($4,033,583 reported). That's money taken from paychecks that sat with the employer longer than the law allows.
Corrective distributions: the plan refunded $8,549 in contributions, which usually means it failed annual nondiscrimination testing.
What to do if you're in this plan
- Zones put in about $1,428 per active participant, more than the typical peer ($743). 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.
- 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 | $1,468,568 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $7,571,684 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $699,088 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $119,050 |
| Contract administrator fees | $3,625 |
| Investment advisory & management fees | $93,333 |
| Other admin expenses | $225 |
| Benefits paid out | $13,717,985 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $100.4M / $109.1M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 941 / 1,116 |
| Participants with account balances | 1,844 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Yes |
| Auditor | Clark Nuber P.S. |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| NFP Retirement Inc | $93,334 reported compensation |
| Empower Annuity Insurance Company O | $25,492 reported compensation |
| Kestra Investment Services LLC | $21,788 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20250630154839NAL0027846946001, received 2025-06-30, EIN 91-1431894, plan #001, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.