Ginkgo Bioworks, Inc. 401(k) Review & Grade
Ginkgo 401(k) Plan
Boston, MAManufacturing1,014 active participantsPlan year 2024✓ Auto-enroll
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$5,419Employer $ per active participant
$16,265Employee $ saved per active participant
0.07%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$132.1MNet plan assets, end of year
$84,679Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity42.7 / 5085th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost20.4 / 2582th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving14.8 / 1598th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features10 / 10Auto-enrollment, Default investment
- Red-flag deductions-13 pts2 issues reported on the filing
Total score75 / 100 · Grade A
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Manufacturing plans with 500–2,499 active participants (2,376 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 85th |
| Lower admin cost | 82th |
| Employee saving | 98th |
| 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 ($506,839 reported). That's money taken from paychecks that sat with the employer longer than the law allows.
Corrective distributions: the plan refunded $10,772 in contributions, which usually means it failed annual nondiscrimination testing.
What to do if you're in this plan
- Ginkgo Bioworks put in about $5,419 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 auto-enrolls employees. Check your default contribution rate. Defaults are often lower than what it takes to get the full match.
- 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 | $5,497,369 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $16,500,587 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $3,198,511 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $75,630 |
| Contract administrator fees | $75,630 |
| Benefits paid out | $32,345,983 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $86.6M / $132.1M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 1,193 / 836 |
| Participants with account balances | 1,560 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Yes |
| Auditor | Gray, Gray, & Gray LLP |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Principal Life Insurance Company | $75,630 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20251015102550NAL0002142787001, received 2025-10-15, EIN 26-3118890, plan #001, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.