National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC 401(k) Review & Grade
Ntess Savings and Income Plan
Albuquerque, NMProfessional, Scientific & Technical Services15,938 active participantsPlan year 2024
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$11,917Employer $ per active participant
$16,533Employee $ saved per active participant
0.06%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$7.2BNet plan assets, end of year
$372,187Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity49.3 / 5099th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost16.2 / 2565th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving14.3 / 1596th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features3 / 10Default investment
- Red-flag deductions-3 pts1 issue reported on the filing
Total score80 / 100 · Grade A
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Professional, Scientific & Technical Services plans with 10,000+ active participants (70 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 99th |
| Lower admin cost | 65th |
| Employee saving | 96th |
| Peers that auto-enroll | 39% |
Red flags from the filing
Corrective distributions: the plan refunded $33,681 in contributions, which usually means it failed annual nondiscrimination testing.
What to do if you're in this plan
- National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia put in about $11,917 per active participant, more than the typical peer ($2,932). 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 | $189,929,776 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $263,507,676 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $24,804,237 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $4,004,513 |
| Investment advisory & management fees | $3,404,082 |
| Other admin expenses | $15,750 |
| Benefits paid out | $468,826,239 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $6.1B / $7.2B |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 15,926 / 15,950 |
| Participants with account balances | 19,472 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Not reported |
| Auditor | Mitchell & Titus, LLP |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Edelman Financial Engines, LLC | $2,048,561 reported compensation |
| Fidelity Investments Institutional | $584,681 reported compensation |
| Alight Solutions LLC | $15,750 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20251014110308NAL0001274947001, received 2025-10-14, EIN 85-0097942, plan #008, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.
Get notified when National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia's next filing posts
The most generous employers, the worst red flags, and plain-English 401(k) tips. One email a month.