Spectris, Inc. 401(k) Review & Grade
The Spectris Group Safe Harbor 401(k) Retirement Plan
Westborough, MAManufacturing1,904 active participantsPlan year 2024
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$3,414Employer $ per active participant
$6,812Employee $ saved per active participant
0.16%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$272.7MNet plan assets, end of year
$130,116Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity34.1 / 5068th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost15.5 / 2562th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving10.7 / 1572th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features3 / 10Default investment
- Red-flag deductions-13 pts2 issues reported on the filing
Total score50 / 100 · Grade C
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Manufacturing plans with 500–2,499 active participants (2,376 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 68th |
| Lower admin cost | 62th |
| Employee saving | 72th |
| Peers that auto-enroll | 59% |
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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 ($42 reported). That's money taken from paychecks that sat with the employer longer than the law allows.
Corrective distributions: the plan refunded $25,262 in contributions, which usually means it failed annual nondiscrimination testing.
What to do if you're in this plan
- Spectris put in about $3,414 per active participant, more than the typical peer ($2,320). 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 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 | $6,498,839 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $12,966,087 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $17,114,827 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $426,984 |
| Investment advisory & management fees | $104,877 |
| Benefits paid out | $41,613,836 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $274.6M / $272.7M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 1,878 / 1,929 |
| Participants with account balances | 2,096 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Not reported |
| Auditor | Brock and Company Cpas P.C. |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Empower Annuity Insurance Company O | $242,307 reported compensation |
| Creative Planning Holdco LLC DBA CR | $92,836 reported compensation |
| Grant Thornton LLP | $79,800 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20251003094845NAL0001238785001, received 2025-10-03, EIN 51-0363173, plan #003, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.