American Welding Society 403(b) Retirement Plan

• Compliance

  Failed to transmit contributions

  Form 5500 reported a failure to timely transmit participant contributions (Schedule H line 4a).

  Schedule H, line 4a
• Opportunity

  High fees

  Administrative expenses exceed $300 per participant per year - possible fee-review opportunity. (Recordkeeping / audit / legal; excludes investment management.)

  Schedule H, line 2i
• Opportunity

  Possible retail share class: $175K

  Mutual funds in a class the filing names that is often retail or revenue sharing. Confirm before you raise it.

  Schedule H, line 4i
• Opportunity

  Few collective trusts

  0% of fund dollars in collective trusts, which often cost less than the same strategy as a mutual fund.

  Schedule H, line 4i

Industry

81 - Other Services (except Public Administration)

Plan type

Defined contribution

Participants

100-249

Cohort

2,198 peers

Snapshot

2025

Target-date series: Vanguard Target Retirement, mutual fund, 43% of fund dollars

Covers 71,410 large plans that list their funds in their annual filing. Updated Nov 6, 2026. Shares describe these plans, not the whole market.

• 2E
  Profit-sharing

  Profit-sharing plan.
• 2F
  ERISA section 404(c) plan

  This plan or any part of it is intended to meet the conditions of 29 CFR 2550.404c-1 (shifting investment responsibility to participants).
• 2G
  Total participant-directed account plan

  Participants have the opportunity to direct the investment of all of the assets allocated to their individual accounts regardless of whether 29 CFR 2550.404c-1 is intended to be met.
• 2L
  Code section 403(b)(1) arrangement

  Plan uses a Code section 403(b)(1) annuity contract as a funding vehicle.
• 2M
  Code section 403(b)(7) accounts

  Plan uses Code section 403(b)(7) custodial accounts as a funding vehicle.
• 2S
  Automatic enrollment

  Plan provides for automatic enrollment in plan that has elective contributions deducted from payroll.
• 3D
  Pre-approved pension plan

  A master prototype or volume submitter plan that is the subject of a favorable opinion or advisory letter from the IRS.
• 3H
  Controlled group member

  Plan sponsor(s) is (are) a member(s) of a controlled group (Code sections 414(b) (c) or (m)).