Alphatec Spine, Inc. 401(k) Review & Grade
Alphatec Spine, Inc. 401(k) Plan
Carlsbad, CAManufacturing689 active participantsPlan year 2024
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$3,101Employer $ per active participant
$10,077Employee $ saved per active participant
0.27%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$58.6MNet plan assets, end of year
$63,670Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity32.4 / 5065th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost11.3 / 2545th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving13.5 / 1590th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features0 / 10No auto-enrollment or default investment reported
- Red-flag deductions-10 pts1 issue reported on the filing
Total score47 / 100 · Grade C
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Manufacturing plans with 500–2,499 active participants (2,376 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 65th |
| Lower admin cost | 45th |
| Employee saving | 90th |
| 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 ($449,286 reported). That's money taken from paychecks that sat with the employer longer than the law allows.
What to do if you're in this plan
- Alphatec Spine put in about $3,101 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 | $2,136,893 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $6,942,923 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $5,375,228 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $135,283 |
| Other admin expenses | $135,283 |
| Benefits paid out | $6,620,519 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $43.2M / $58.6M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 671 / 707 |
| Participants with account balances | 920 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Not reported |
| Auditor | Baker Tilly US, LLP |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Merril Lynch Pierce Fenner & Smith | $43,118 reported compensation |
| Merrill Lynch | $25,998 reported compensation |
| San Diego Pension Consultants | $24,803 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20251015141018NAL0009646322001, received 2025-10-15, EIN 33-0412288, plan #001, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.