MKS Instruments, Inc. 401(k) Review & Grade
MKS Instruments, Inc. Profit Sharing & 401(k) Plan
Andover, MAManufacturing2,838 active participantsPlan year 2024✓ Auto-enroll
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$3,353Employer $ per active participant
$11,927Employee $ saved per active participant
0.04%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$839.6MNet plan assets, end of year
$205,978Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity24.1 / 5048th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost21.3 / 2585th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving13.5 / 1590th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features10 / 10Auto-enrollment, Default investment
- Red-flag deductions-10 pts1 issue reported on the filing
Total score59 / 100 · Grade C
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Manufacturing plans with 2,500–9,999 active participants (566 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 48th |
| Lower admin cost | 85th |
| Employee saving | 90th |
| Peers that auto-enroll | 70% |
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Red flags from the filing
Benefits not paid when due: the plan reported failing to pay some benefits on time.
What to do if you're in this plan
- MKS Instruments put in about $3,353 per active participant, below the typical peer ($3,452). Any match is still an instant return, so contribute enough to get all of it.
- 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.
- 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 | $9,512,925 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $33,844,235 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $3,841,023 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $303,503 |
| Contract administrator fees | $600 |
| Investment advisory & management fees | $167,018 |
| Benefits paid out | $92,733,128 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $764.9M / $839.6M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 2,770 / 2,905 |
| Participants with account balances | 4,076 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Yes |
| Auditor | Bdo USA, P.C. |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Strategic Advisors, Inc. | $102,268 reported compensation |
| Fidelity Investments Institutional | $91,578 reported compensation |
| Capfinancial Partners, LLC. | $64,750 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20251008104801NAL0003206595001, received 2025-10-08, EIN 04-2277512, plan #001, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.