Allen Institute 401(k) Review & Grade
Allen Institute 401(k) Plan
Seattle, WAProfessional, Scientific & Technical Services890 active participantsPlan year 2024
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$7,018Employer $ per active participant
$15,421Employee $ saved per active participant
0.02%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$149.8MNet plan assets, end of year
$118,444Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity42.1 / 5084th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost23.7 / 2595th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving13.4 / 1589th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features3 / 10Default investment
- Red-flag deductions-3 pts1 issue reported on the filing
Total score79 / 100 · Grade A
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Professional, Scientific & Technical Services plans with 500–2,499 active participants (1,469 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 84th |
| Lower admin cost | 95th |
| Employee saving | 89th |
| Peers that auto-enroll | 48% |
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Red flags from the filing
Corrective distributions: the plan refunded $34,508 in contributions, which usually means it failed annual nondiscrimination testing.
What to do if you're in this plan
- Allen Institute put in about $7,018 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.
- 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 | $6,242,338 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $13,716,650 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $2,817,615 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $29,623 |
| Benefits paid out | $8,744,006 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $116.2M / $149.8M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 827 / 952 |
| Participants with account balances | 1,265 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Not reported |
| Auditor | Clark Nuber PS |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Fidelity Investments Institutional | $29,623 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20250819170559NAL0002409233001, received 2025-08-19, EIN 91-2155317, plan #001, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.