Hilltop Holdings Inc. 401(k) Review & Grade
Hilltop Holdings Inc. 401(k) Plan
Dallas, TXManagement of Companies3,744 active participantsPlan year 2024✓ Auto-enroll
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$3,552Employer $ per active participant
$9,355Employee $ saved per active participant
0.06%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$809.7MNet plan assets, end of year
$153,436Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity25.4 / 5051th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost19.0 / 2576th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving11.9 / 1580th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features10 / 10Auto-enrollment, Default investment
- Red-flag deductions-13 pts2 issues reported on the filing
Total score53 / 100 · Grade C
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Management of Companies plans with 2,500–9,999 active participants (60 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 51th |
| Lower admin cost | 76th |
| Employee saving | 80th |
| Peers that auto-enroll | 58% |
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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 ($704 reported). That's money taken from paychecks that sat with the employer longer than the law allows.
Corrective distributions: the plan refunded $34,435 in contributions, which usually means it failed annual nondiscrimination testing.
What to do if you're in this plan
- Hilltop Holdings put in about $3,552 per active participant, more than the typical peer ($3,455). 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.
- 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 | $13,299,470 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $35,028,336 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $6,398,627 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $423,416 |
| Investment advisory & management fees | $184,117 |
| Benefits paid out | $75,088,424 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $727.0M / $809.7M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 3,880 / 3,609 |
| Participants with account balances | 5,277 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Yes |
| Auditor | Baker Tilly US, LLP |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Schwab Retirement Plan Services Inc | $360,583 reported compensation |
| Atwood & Palmer Inc | $13,640 reported compensation |
| Charles Schwab & Co Inc | $10,652 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20251027095643NAL0014780098001, received 2025-10-27, EIN 84-1477939, plan #001, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.