Spirent Communications, Inc. 401(k) Review & Grade
The Spirent Communications 401(k) Plan
Frederick, MDProfessional, Scientific & Technical Services815 active participantsPlan year 2024
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$5,902Employer $ per active participant
$16,440Employee $ saved per active participant
0.03%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$449.7MNet plan assets, end of year
$318,000Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity39.3 / 5079th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost23.2 / 2593th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving14.0 / 1593th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features0 / 10No auto-enrollment or default investment reported
Total score77 / 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 | 79th |
| Lower admin cost | 93th |
| Employee saving | 93th |
| Peers that auto-enroll | 48% |
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Red flags from the filing
No red flags were reported on this filing's compliance questions.
What to do if you're in this plan
- Spirent Communications put in about $5,902 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 | $4,810,178 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $13,399,001 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $450,993 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $129,301 |
| Contract administrator fees | $107,041 |
| Benefits paid out | $32,260,816 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $402.7M / $449.7M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 831 / 799 |
| Participants with account balances | 1,414 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Not reported |
| Auditor | Cliftonlarsonallen LLP |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| T Rowe Price RPS Inc | $64,090 reported compensation |
| Global Retirement Partners, LLC | $34,069 reported compensation |
| Clifton Larson Allen LLP | $22,365 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20250728140553NAL0003591106001, received 2025-07-28, EIN 11-3572676, plan #001, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.