M.D.C. Holdings, Inc. 401(k) Review & Grade
M.D.C. Holdings, Inc. 401(k) Savings Plan
Denver, COReal Estate & Rental1,852 active participantsPlan year 2024
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$1,972Employer $ per active participant
$6,531Employee $ saved per active participant
0.10%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$158.8MNet plan assets, end of year
$87,803Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity34.5 / 5069th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost18.3 / 2573th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving12.1 / 1580th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features3 / 10Default investment
- Red-flag deductions-3 pts1 issue reported on the filing
Total score65 / 100 · Grade B
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Real Estate & Rental plans with 500–2,499 active participants (291 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 69th |
| Lower admin cost | 73th |
| Employee saving | 80th |
| Peers that auto-enroll | 47% |
Get the monthly 401(k) report card
The best and worst plans, new grades as filings post. One email a month, no spam.
Red flags from the filing
Corrective distributions: the plan refunded $49,278 in contributions, which usually means it failed annual nondiscrimination testing.
What to do if you're in this plan
- M.D.C. Holdings put in about $1,972 per active participant, more than the typical peer ($1,279). 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.
- 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 | $3,652,995 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $12,098,113 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $2,260,165 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $157,220 |
| Investment advisory & management fees | $23,813 |
| Benefits paid out | $25,057,450 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $144.6M / $158.8M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 1,835 / 1,870 |
| Participants with account balances | 1,809 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Not reported |
| Auditor | Plante & Moran, PLLC |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Schwab Retirement Plan Services,inc | $157,220 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20251015102437NAL0009061746005, received 2025-10-15, EIN 84-0622967, plan #004, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.