Valence Surface Technologies 401(k) Review & Grade
Valence Surface Technologies 401(k) Plan
The Woodlands, TXManufacturing1,080 active participantsPlan year 2024
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$1,037Employer $ per active participant
$2,023Employee $ saved per active participant
0.59%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$28.3MNet plan assets, end of year
$39,187Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity8.9 / 5018th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost4.4 / 2518th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving1.8 / 1512th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features3 / 10Default investment
- Red-flag deductions-3 pts1 issue reported on the filing
Total score15 / 100 · Grade F
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Manufacturing plans with 500–2,499 active participants (2,376 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 18th |
| Lower admin cost | 18th |
| Employee saving | 12th |
| Peers that auto-enroll | 59% |
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Red flags from the filing
Corrective distributions: the plan refunded $7,101 in contributions, which usually means it failed annual nondiscrimination testing.
What to do if you're in this plan
- Valence Surface Technologies put in about $1,037 per active participant, below the typical peer ($2,320). Any match is still an instant return, so contribute enough to get all of it.
- 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.
- Direct plan expenses (0.59% of assets) are well above similar-size plans (0.23%). Check your annual fee disclosure, choose low-cost index funds if you can, and think about whether savings beyond the match belong in an IRA.
- 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 | $1,119,455 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $2,184,817 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $191,910 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $158,493 |
| Contract administrator fees | $93,621 |
| Investment advisory & management fees | $64,872 |
| Benefits paid out | $3,349,033 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $25.1M / $28.3M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 1,098 / 1,062 |
| Participants with account balances | 721 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Not reported |
| Auditor | Baker Tilly US, LLP |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| The Vanguard Group, Inc. | $93,621 reported compensation |
| Global Retirement Partners | $64,872 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20251013165211NAL0000850227001, received 2025-10-13, EIN 47-4359966, plan #001, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.