Exponent, Inc. 401(k) Review & Grade
Exponent Inc. 401(k) Savings Plan
Menlo Park, CAProfessional, Scientific & Technical Services1,070 active participantsPlan year 2024
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$9,326Employer $ per active participant
$14,056Employee $ saved per active participant
0.02%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$616.3MNet plan assets, end of year
$304,043Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity44.5 / 5089th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost23.5 / 2594th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving12.7 / 1585th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features3 / 10Default investment
Total score84 / 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 | 89th |
| Lower admin cost | 94th |
| Employee saving | 85th |
| 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
- Exponent put in about $9,326 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 | $9,979,036 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $15,040,249 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $2,171,376 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $141,292 |
| Contract administrator fees | $900 |
| Investment advisory & management fees | $80,530 |
| Other admin expenses | $37,500 |
| Benefits paid out | $33,146,611 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $531.2M / $616.3M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 1,073 / 1,067 |
| Participants with account balances | 2,027 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Not reported |
| Auditor | Frank, Rimerman & Co., LLP |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Strategic Advisors, Inc. | $80,530 reported compensation |
| Gyl Financial Synergies LLC | $37,500 reported compensation |
| Frank Rimmerman | $16,275 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20250930113726NAL0012201233001, received 2025-09-30, EIN 77-0218904, plan #002, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.