Melwood Horticultural Training Center 401(k) Review & Grade
Melwood Service Contract Act Retirement Plan
Upper Marlboro, MDOther Services859 active participantsPlan year 2024
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$1,542Employer $ per active participant
$687Employee $ saved per active participant
0.44%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$33.4MNet plan assets, end of year
$27,517Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity29.4 / 5059th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost6.7 / 2527th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving2.7 / 1518th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features3 / 10Default investment
- Red-flag deductions-5 pts1 issue reported on the filing
Total score37 / 100 · Grade D
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Other Services plans with 500–2,499 active participants (333 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 59th |
| Lower admin cost | 27th |
| Employee saving | 18th |
| Peers that auto-enroll | 40% |
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Red flags from the filing
Auditor disclaimer: the auditor issued a disclaimer of opinion.
What to do if you're in this plan
- Melwood Horticultural Training Center put in about $1,542 per active participant, more than the typical peer ($1,257). 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.
- Direct plan expenses (0.44% 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 | $1,324,432 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $590,312 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | – |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $143,309 |
| Investment advisory & management fees | $32,230 |
| Benefits paid out | $2,988,903 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $31.0M / $33.4M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 841 / 877 |
| Participants with account balances | 1,214 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Not reported |
| Auditor | RSM US LLP |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Transamerica Retirement Solutions | $111,079 reported compensation |
| Gallagher Fiduciary Advisors LLC | $32,230 reported compensation |
| National Financial Services | $0 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20251015094236NAL0005693264001, received 2025-10-15, EIN 52-0857690, plan #002, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.