The Broad Institute 401(k) Review & Grade
The Broad Institute, Inc. 401(k) Retirement Plan
Cambridge, MAProfessional, Scientific & Technical Services2,114 active participantsPlan year 2024✓ Auto-enroll
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$8,250Employer $ per active participant
$10,887Employee $ saved per active participant
0.07%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$475.9MNet plan assets, end of year
$115,433Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity43.4 / 5087th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost20.7 / 2583th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving9.9 / 1566th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features10 / 10Auto-enrollment, Default investment
- Red-flag deductions-3 pts1 issue reported on the filing
Total score81 / 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 | 87th |
| Lower admin cost | 83th |
| Employee saving | 66th |
| Peers that auto-enroll | 48% |
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Red flags from the filing
Corrective distributions: the plan refunded $15,882 in contributions, which usually means it failed annual nondiscrimination testing.
What to do if you're in this plan
- Broad Institute put in about $8,250 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.
- The plan auto-enrolls employees. Check your default contribution rate. Defaults are often lower than what it takes to get the full match.
- 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 | $17,445,588 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $23,020,535 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $1,585,379 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $291,422 |
| Contract administrator fees | $600 |
| Investment advisory & management fees | $111,185 |
| Benefits paid out | $32,849,054 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $403.7M / $475.9M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 2,196 / 2,033 |
| Participants with account balances | 4,123 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Yes |
| Auditor | Aafcpas, Inc |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Fidelity Investments Institutional | $180,237 reported compensation |
| Rocaton Investment Advisors, LLC | $111,185 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20251010090833NAL0004088947001, received 2025-10-10, EIN 26-3428781, plan #001, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.