Natera 401(k) Review & Grade
Natera 401(k) Plan
San Carlos, CAHealth Care & Social Assistance3,858 active participantsPlan year 2024
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$2,726Employer $ per active participant
$9,924Employee $ saved per active participant
0.02%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$301.4MNet plan assets, end of year
$58,372Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity39.9 / 5080th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost23.9 / 2596th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving14.3 / 1595th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features3 / 10Default investment
- Red-flag deductions-3 pts1 issue reported on the filing
Total score78 / 100 · Grade A
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Health Care & Social Assistance plans with 2,500–9,999 active participants (312 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 80th |
| Lower admin cost | 96th |
| Employee saving | 95th |
| Peers that auto-enroll | 38% |
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Red flags from the filing
Corrective distributions: the plan refunded $9,807 in contributions, which usually means it failed annual nondiscrimination testing.
What to do if you're in this plan
- Natera put in about $2,726 per active participant, more than the typical peer ($800). 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 | $10,516,457 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $38,292,541 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $12,062,596 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $40,648 |
| Investment advisory & management fees | $53,126 |
| Other admin expenses | $71,219 |
| Benefits paid out | $12,932,017 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $217.0M / $301.4M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 3,256 / 4,461 |
| Participants with account balances | 5,164 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Not reported |
| Auditor | PW Partners LLC |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Global Retirement Partners | $115,595 reported compensation |
| PW Partners LLC | $17,500 reported compensation |
| Fidelity Investments Institutional | −$92,447 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20251015120109NAL0004476225001, received 2025-10-15, EIN 01-0894487, plan #001, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.