CDW LLC 401(k) Review & Grade
CDW Coworkers' Profit Sharing Plan
Vernon Hills, ILRetail Trade11,486 active participantsPlan year 2024
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$1,959Employer $ per active participant
$11,244Employee $ saved per active participant
0.03%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$2.3BNet plan assets, end of year
$172,912Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity45.9 / 5092th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost20.3 / 2581th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving14.9 / 1599th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features3 / 10Default investment
- Red-flag deductions-13 pts2 issues reported on the filing
Total score71 / 100 · Grade B
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Retail Trade plans with 10,000+ active participants (124 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 92th |
| Lower admin cost | 81th |
| Employee saving | 99th |
| Peers that auto-enroll | 32% |
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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 ($107,193 reported). That's money taken from paychecks that sat with the employer longer than the law allows.
Corrective distributions: the plan refunded $47,934 in contributions, which usually means it failed annual nondiscrimination testing.
What to do if you're in this plan
- CDW put in about $1,959 per active participant, more than the typical peer ($689). 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 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 | $22,497,383 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $129,141,426 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $13,604,871 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $716,035 |
| Contract administrator fees | $10,800 |
| Investment advisory & management fees | $138,537 |
| Benefits paid out | $163,217,749 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $2.0B / $2.3B |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 11,618 / 11,353 |
| Participants with account balances | 13,206 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Not reported |
| Auditor | Ernst & Young LLP |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Fidelity Investments Institutional | $587,017 reported compensation |
| Mercer Investmetns LLC | $138,537 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20250926135746NAL0011898227001, received 2025-09-26, EIN 36-3310735, plan #001, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.