A valve assembly for a pump includes an electrical actuator having a stator and an armature. The stator includes an annular outer stator portion and an annular inner stator portion, and an annular channel formed radially between the outer stator portion and the inner stator portion. A first radial channel extending through the annular outer stator portion between an outer surface of the outer stator portion and the annular channel, and at least one second opening in the annular outer stator portion results in magnetic symmetry of the stator. Upon activating the electrical actuator, the attraction of the armature towards the stator is uniform thus displacing fluid between the stator and armature in a uniform manner and to avoid high velocity, potentially damaging fluid flow.