Industry · Form 5500 business code 453310
Used Merchandise Stores: retirement plans
Plans whose sponsor entered this principal business activity code on Form 5500.
Form 5500 information is as filed by the plan administrator with the Department of Labor and may be amended. Figures reflect the plan year shown, not current balances. The business code is chosen by the filer from the list in the Form 5500 instructions.
31 retirement plans in used merchandise stores with 100 or more participants filed Form 5500 for plan year 2024 (31 defined contribution, 0 defined benefit). All Form 5500 pension filers in the group reported 55,312 participant records and $614M in net assets.
The median defined contribution plan held $8,319 per participant, well below the national median of $53,031, and its employer put in $506 per active participant (national: $2,174). Among plans reporting Schedule C compensation the median was $46.83 per participant against $123 nationally.
Employers contributed $21.4M and participants $52.1M during the year, and the plans paid out $70.4M in benefits.
In 2009 the same group numbered 26 plans with $87.2M; by 2024 it was 31 plans (up 19%) and $614M (up 605%). From plan year 2023 the 100-participant line counts participants with account balances, which moved many plans to the short form.
Medians compared with all US plans
| Median plan, plan year 2024 | Industry: DC | US: DC | Industry: DB | US: DB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net assets per participant | $8,319 | $53,031 | — | $86,234 |
| Employer contributions per active participant | $506 | $2,174 | — | $10,244 |
| Schedule C compensation per participant | $46.83 | $123 | — | $344 |
| Schedule C compensation, share of net assets | 0.64% | 0.26% | — | 0.42% |
| Administrative expenses per participant | $50.16 | $116 | — | $527 |
Medians across plans with 100 or more participants (30 DC and 0 DB plans with a Schedule H here). Fee medians cover plans reporting an amount. DC: defined contribution, such as 401(k) and 403(b). DB: defined benefit pension.
Distribution of DC plans
| Measure | 25th percentile | Median | 75th percentile | Plans |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net assets per participant | $5,524 | $8,319 | $11,508 | 30 |
| Employer contributions per active participant | $240 | $506 | $794 | 30 |
| Schedule C compensation per participant | $26.77 | $46.83 | $71.58 | 27 |
| Administrative expenses per participant | $21.45 | $50.16 | $82.00 | 29 |
Trend by plan year
| Plan year | Plans 100+ | Participants | Net assets | Employer contributions | Participant contributions | Median DC assets / participant | Median DC Sch. C / participant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 31 | 55,312 | $614M | $21.4M | $52.1M | $8,319 | $46.83 |
| 2023 | 33 | 43,534 | $497M | $17.4M | $41.1M | $7,823 | $45.63 |
| 2022 | 42 | 44,015 | $425M | $14.4M | $36.2M | $6,636 | $36.73 |
| 2021 | 35 | 39,779 | $467M | $9.9M | $31.1M | $9,269 | $45.43 |
| 2020 | 34 | 42,638 | $418M | $9.2M | $29.0M | $6,756 | $38.51 |
| 2019 | 33 | 48,555 | $380M | $13.6M | $32.1M | $5,480 | $28.65 |
| 2018 | 32 | 51,800 | $323M | $13.7M | $29.5M | $4,673 | $38.22 |
| 2017 | 30 | 49,765 | $314M | $12.5M | $27.9M | $4,872 | $27.04 |
| 2016 | 28 | 54,152 | $267M | $8.8M | $18.3M | $4,342 | $22.05 |
| 2015 | 30 | 36,008 | $175M | $8.4M | $16.9M | $4,291 | $20.94 |
| 2014 | 26 | 30,204 | $166M | $7.7M | $14.9M | $4,844 | $31.15 |
| 2013 | 27 | 26,884 | $156M | $8.3M | $13.4M | $4,494 | $28.83 |
| 2012 | 29 | 25,623 | $127M | $7.1M | $12.0M | $3,877 | $24.39 |
| 2011 | 28 | 23,675 | $141M | $7.7M | $10.6M | $3,684 | $19.66 |
| 2010 | 31 | 20,611 | $110M | $7.6M | $8.4M | $3,140 | $19.13 |
| 2009 | 26 | 14,925 | $87.2M | $6.8M | $7.4M | $3,364 | $25.80 |
Plan year is the year in which the plan year began. The drop in large plans from 2023 follows a rule change: the 100-participant line now counts participants with account balances, so many plans moved to the short form.
Provider share
Service provider organisations named most often on the Schedule C of the 30 plans on this page's list, by number of plans. A plan usually names several providers.
Largest plans
The 30 largest by participants of 30 plans with a page on this site.
| Plan | Sponsor | State | Type | Participants | Net assets | Per participant | Employer / active | Sch. C / participant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Savers 401(k) Plan | Tvi, Inc. | WA | DC | 13,234 | $128M | $9,647 | $325 | $31.96 |
| Firstcash 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan | Firstcash Holdings, Inc. | TX | DC | 9,459 | $257M | $27,200 | $649 | $70.91 |
| 403(b) Thrift Plan for Goodwill Industries of Kentucky, Inc. | Goodwill Industries of Kentucky, Inc. | KY | DC | 5,255 | $24.3M | $4,629 | $327 | $35.27 |
| Ezcorp, Inc. 401(k) Plan and Trust | Ezcorp, Inc. | TX | DC | 4,511 | $52.4M | $11,607 | $385 | $65.10 |
| Goodwill Industries of Southern California, Inc. 403(b) Thrift Plan | Goodwill Industries of Southern California, Inc. | CA | DC | 3,275 | $17.8M | $5,449 | $86 | $21.00 |
| Goodwill Industries of Central Florida 403(b) Plan | Goodwill Industries of Central Florida, Inc. | FL | DC | 3,037 | $13.6M | $4,491 | $797 | $21.45 |
| Goodwill Industries of Central Texas 403(b) Tda Plan | Goodwill Industries of Central Texas | TX | DC | 2,277 | $13.1M | $5,750 | $153 | $39.02 |
| Arc Thrift Stores 401(k) Retirement Plan | Arc Thrift Stores | CO | DC | 1,876 | $17.6M | $9,400 | $692 | $58.60 |
| Goodwill Industries Sacramento & Northern Nevada 403(b) Retirement Plan | Goodwill Industries of Sacramento Valley & Northern Nevada Inc. | CA | DC | 1,846 | $3.9M | $2,105 | $108 | $15.90 |
| America's Thrift Store 401(k) Retirement Plan | Ats Operating, LLC | AL | DC | 1,371 | $3.8M | $2,737 | $48 | $39.29 |
| Section 403(b) Retirement Plan for Goodwill Industries Suncoast, Inc. | Goodwill Industries Suncoast, Inc. | FL | DC | 1,085 | $18.3M | $16,841 | $415 | $59.37 |
| Goodwill of Western & Northern Connecticut, Inc. 403(b) Plan | Goodwill of Western & Northern Connecticut, Inc. | CT | DC | 991 | $2.8M | $2,808 | $117 | $6.78 |
| Buffalo Exchange Ltd. 401(k) Plan | Buffalo Exchange Ltd. | AZ | DC | 868 | $8.3M | $9,577 | $220 | $8.93 |
| Memphis Goodwill Inc. 403(b) Retirement Plan | Memphis Goodwill Inc. | TN | DC | 703 | $1.8M | $2,565 | $298 | $50.16 |
| Kollective Management Services, LLC 401(k) Plan | Kollective Management Services, LLC | NJ | DC | 694 | $34.5M | $49,682 | $887 | $339 |
| Goodwill Central Coast 403(b) Plan | Goodwill Central Coast | CA | DC | 638 | $5.2M | $8,136 | $389 | $82.00 |
| Goodwill Industries of West Michigan Inc. Employee Pension Plan | Goodwill Industries of West Michigan, Inc. | MI | DC | 597 | $9.3M | $15,615 | $1,827 | $10.52 |
| Goodwill Industries of Lane & South Coast Counties 403(b) Plan | Goodwill Industries of Lane & South Coast Counties | OR | DC | 567 | $6.4M | $11,210 | $668 | $21.57 |
| Nellis Auction 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan | Cret LLC | NV | DC | 506 | $3.3M | $6,449 | $533 | — |
| Goodwill Industries of Fort Worth 401(k) Plan | Goodwill Industries of Fort Worth Inc. | TX | DC | 469 | $9.0M | $19,152 | $1,769 | $35.16 |
| Thrift Stores of Ohio, Inc. 401(k) Plan | Thrift Stores of Ohio, Inc. | OH | DC | 466 | $103K | $221 | $70 | — |
| Fashionphile Group, LLC 401(k) Plan | Fashionphile Group, LLC | CA | DC | 461 | $11.1M | $24,186 | $1,545 | $200 |
| Community Aid 401(k) Plan | Community Aid, Inc. | PA | DC | 449 | $4.6M | $10,204 | $1,379 | $129 |
| Southern Oregon Goodwill Inc. 403(b) Plan | Southern Oregon Goodwill Industries Inc. | OR | DC | 396 | $3.4M | $8,559 | $519 | — |
| Reunitus 401(k) Plan | Unclaimed Baggage, Inc. | AL | DC | 356 | — | — | — | — |
| PCS for People Inc. 401(k) Plan | PCS for People | MN | DC | 251 | $1.8M | $7,019 | $810 | $44.88 |
| Thrift World 401(k) Plan | Thrift Holdings LLC | NE | DC | 172 | $482K | $2,802 | $498 | $76.90 |
| Goodwill Industries of Northwest Texas 401(k) Plan | Goodwill Industries of Lubbock, Inc. | TX | DC | 168 | $1.2M | $7,015 | $735 | $66.26 |
| Amvets Department of California Service Foundation 401(k) Plan | Amvets Department of California Service Foundation | CA | DC | 168 | $1.4M | $8,502 | $0 | $127 |
| Pal Management, Inc. Employee Savings Plan | Pal Management, Inc. | MN | DC | 168 | $5.8M | $34,396 | $800 | $346 |
By plan size
By state
Questions and answers
How many retirement plans are there in used merchandise stores?
31 plans with 100 or more participants filed Form 5500 for plan year 2024, out of 71 pension plans on the full form. Smaller plans file Form 5500-SF and are counted separately where shown.
What is the typical 401(k) balance in used merchandise stores?
The median defined contribution plan reported $8,319 in net assets per participant (middle half of plans: $5,524 to $11,508); nationally it was $53,031. This is a plan-level average that includes former employees, not a typical person's balance.
What do employers contribute in used merchandise stores?
The median defined contribution plan received $506 in employer contributions per active participant, against $2,174 nationally. Plans with no employer contribution are included at zero.
What are average 401(k) fees in used merchandise stores?
Among defined contribution plans that report any Schedule C compensation, the median was $46.83 per participant and 0.64% of net assets (nationally $123 and 0.26%). Schedule C leaves out fund expense ratios and fees the employer pays, so it understates total cost.
Where does this come from?
Form 5500 annual reports in the EBSA research files, with filings received through 24 Aug 2026. Medians are computed by this site across plans with 100 or more participants.
Provenance
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration, Form 5500 research files, public domain, with filings received through 24 Aug 2026. Totals count every pension plan on the full form; medians and the plan list cover plans with 100 or more participants. See the methodology.