Align Technology, Inc. 401(k) Review & Grade
Align Technology, Inc. 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan
San Jose, CAProfessional, Scientific & Technical Services2,023 active participantsPlan year 2024✓ Auto-enroll
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$4,628Employer $ per active participant
$16,294Employee $ saved per active participant
0.11%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$411.7MNet plan assets, end of year
$147,681Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity35.5 / 5071th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost17.9 / 2572th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving13.9 / 1593th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features10 / 10Auto-enrollment, Default investment
- Red-flag deductions-13 pts2 issues reported on the filing
Total score64 / 100 · Grade B
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Professional, Scientific & Technical Services plans with 500–2,499 active participants (1,469 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 71th |
| Lower admin cost | 72th |
| Employee saving | 93th |
| Peers that auto-enroll | 48% |
Get the monthly 401(k) report card
The best and worst plans, new grades as filings post. One email a month, no spam.
Red flags from the filing
Late deposits: the filing says some employee contributions were not sent to the plan on time ($18,530 reported). That's money taken from paychecks that sat with the employer longer than the law allows.
Corrective distributions: the plan refunded $1,521 in contributions, which usually means it failed annual nondiscrimination testing.
What to do if you're in this plan
- Align Technology put in about $4,628 per active participant, more than the typical peer ($3,082). 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 | $9,363,383 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $32,961,839 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $4,947,341 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $413,577 |
| Contract administrator fees | $300 |
| Investment advisory & management fees | $158,561 |
| Benefits paid out | $29,371,867 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $338.0M / $411.7M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 2,058 / 1,988 |
| Participants with account balances | 2,788 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Yes |
| Auditor | Baker Tilly US, LLP |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Fidelity Investments Institutional | $209,426 reported compensation |
| Strategic Advisors, Inc. | $103,097 reported compensation |
| Sageview Advisory Group | $55,464 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20250929214608NAL0012615360001, received 2025-09-29, EIN 94-3267295, plan #001, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.