Cadence Design Systems Inc 401(k) Review & Grade
Cadence Design Systems, Inc. 401(k) Plan
San Jose, CAManufacturing3,703 active participantsPlan year 2024✓ Auto-enroll
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$5,869Employer $ per active participant
$21,701Employee $ saved per active participant
0.05%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$2.1BNet plan assets, end of year
$355,192Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity38.1 / 5076th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost19.5 / 2578th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving14.9 / 15100th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features10 / 10Auto-enrollment, Default investment
- Red-flag deductions-13 pts2 issues reported on the filing
Total score70 / 100 · Grade B
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Manufacturing plans with 2,500–9,999 active participants (566 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 76th |
| Lower admin cost | 78th |
| Employee saving | 100th |
| Peers that auto-enroll | 70% |
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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 ($1,133 reported). That's money taken from paychecks that sat with the employer longer than the law allows.
Corrective distributions: the plan refunded $297,221 in contributions, which usually means it failed annual nondiscrimination testing.
What to do if you're in this plan
- Cadence Design Systems put in about $5,869 per active participant, more than the typical peer ($3,452). 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 | $21,734,041 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $80,360,097 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $11,732,007 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $991,577 |
| Investment advisory & management fees | $738,866 |
| Other admin expenses | $1,800 |
| Benefits paid out | $93,872,603 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $1.8B / $2.1B |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 3,690 / 3,716 |
| Participants with account balances | 5,890 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Yes |
| Auditor | Baker Tilly US, LLP |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Empower Advisory Group, LLC | $738,866 reported compensation |
| Empower Annuity Insurance Company O | $349,662 reported compensation |
| Moss Adams LLP | $40,950 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20251006131700NAL0002086739001, received 2025-10-06, EIN 77-0148231, plan #001, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.