Frequently Asked Questions

It’s important to the Company that we partner with you to invest in your retirement, because you’re important to us. In the past, we’ve provided a really competitive retirement program, but it was also really complicated. When you asked us to simplify our retirement offerings, we listened. 

You don’t need to do anything to get the contribution to the Company Contribution Plan. We’ll say it again: You don’t need to do anything to get the Company’s  contribution. It’s basically free money. And who doesn’t love that? That said, we still recommend you contribute to your 401(k) to save for retirement as well. We can’t tell you what to do, but you really, really should. Together, the two plans will help you plan for the future. 

No. Unlike a match, you don’t need to take any action to get this contribution. That’s right. This is a no-questions-asked contribution to your retirement — it is your pension account. Which we think is pretty cool. 

To see your company contribution percentage in action, visit the GH Retirement Center to access your account. While you’re there, you can see the growth of your pension account balance, the monthly amounts contributed to your account, model your retirement income, and more.

Your account grows each month with a company contribution plus interest. The company contribution is calculated based on the eligible pay* you earn each month multiplied by your contribution percentage. The monthly amount can fluctuate based on the number of payrolls in a given month. For example, you may receive two or three paychecks in a calendar month if you are paid biweekly. The amount will change if your pay rate changes during the year.

*Generally, eligible pay means your regular earnings and may include commissions, if applicable. Please refer to the Summary Plan Description for additional information. Federal law limits the amount of eligible compensation that the Plan can take into account when calculating your benefit.

General information about eligibility can be found here. Once you are a participant, you will always participate unless you terminate employment with the Company. For additional details about retirement benefits eligibility, refer to the Retirement Summary Plan Descriptions.

We don’t think we can say this enough. All you need to do to get the Company Contribution Plan is work here. That’s it. Nothing else. We promise.

Nope. Your account is not invested. You’ll see modest gains in this account but you (again) don’t need to do anything.

No. One of the great things about the Company Contribution Plan is the stability it offers. Unlike some retirement plans that depend on market performance, this Plan is designed so your balance is guaranteed to grow over time. That means your money will only go up — it won’t lose value due to market ups and downs. 

+ Your account is credited with interest at an attractive rate (4.89% for 2026). 

+ Your account cannot lose money due to investment fluctuations. 

+ Your account is backed by the Company’s fully funded trust fund, and insured by a federal agency called the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.

To designate or update your beneficiary, access the GH Retirement Center securely online through the GHConnect or call Graham Holdings Retirement Center at (800) 834-8684.

Please follow these steps to designate and view your current beneficiary information:

1. Log into your account through GHConnect or ghretirementcenter.ehr.com

2. Select "Review My Beneficiaries”

3. If you need to add a beneficiary, either select “Add a Beneficiary”. If you need to update your current beneficiary, select “Edit Beneficiary Designations”.

You’re vested in the Plan after 1 year of employment, and then you can take the money with you.

If you’re not vested, the money in your account doesn’t belong to you yet. If you leave the Company before you become vested, you’ll lose that money.

For employees who participated in the prior pension plan (the SRA), it was frozen effective 12/31/2023. No pay credits were issued after 12/31/2023, but interest credits continue to be deposited for existing account balances. The SRA cannot be rolled over into the Company Contribution account nor can the SRA benefit be taken while active with the company. The SRA and Company Contribution Plan (formerly the Cash Balance Plan) are viewable on the GHC Retirement Center.

If you are eligible to participate in The Savings Plan for Graham Holdings Company (Plan 091600) or the Kaplan, Inc. Tax Deferred Savings Plan for Salaried Employees (Plan 092096) and were hired on or after January 1, 2024, you are automatically enrolled with the default options at Vanguard. The contribution rate for new hires is set at 4%. To opt-out of the default options, contact Vanguard within 30 days of your hire date. You can change your deferral election at any time by contacting Vanguard.

If you are eligible to participate in The 401(k) Savings Plan for GHC Affiliates (Plan 093505), enrollment in the Plan is not automatic. In order to enroll in the Plan, you must contact Vanguard to submit your enrollment either online or by phone. Your enrollment will be effective on the first day of the payroll period after your election has been processed.

First time accessing your Vanguard account online? Be sure you know your plan number (the sixdigit number in your Vanguard letter), the date you were hired and your employee number. If you need any help, contact HR.

A Roth contribution allows you to pay taxes upfront, so earnings grow tax-free! It may be a great option depending on your tax bracket now and in the future. Learn more here. Log in to your Vanguard account to make changes to your 401(k) contributions or review your contribution elections and investment options.

Your 401(k) plan has several different funds you can choose from. For example, the plan offers target date funds, which balance the risk of the investment with how soon you will retire. The sooner you’re planning on retiring, the less risky the investments will be. Visit Vanguard online — they offer a variety of tools to help you review the investment choices available to you.

Well, yes. We hope it doesn’t, of course, but your balance in your 401(k) gets invested, which means it might grow, but it might also go down, depending on the market.

We know it’s ideal to keep that money in your 401(k) and to just let it grow until you retire. And in an ideal world, that’s what you’ll do. But you’ll have the ability to take out a loan from your 401(k). It could be a big help. Here’s how loans work:

• $1,000 minimum, $50,000 maximum

  • • If the loan is for the purchase of a principal residence; the repayment period is up to 10 years

    • All other loans have a maximum repayment period of 5 years

• Only one active loan is permitted at a time

• Estimated interest rate is prime + 1%; credited to your account

Naming a beneficiary for your Savings Plan account and keeping the designation up to date is important because your beneficiary designation supersedes your will regarding money in your 401(k) account. The current beneficiary designation listed online with Vanguard will be treated as the most recent filing and will be honored in the event of your death. You can designate a beneficiary or update your current beneficiary designations securely online through http://www.vanguard.com/ or by calling Vanguard Participant Services at 800-523-1188.

Please follow these steps to designate and view your current beneficiary information:
1. Log in to your account at http://www.vanguard.com/, or click the Vanguard tile on OneLogin.

2. Select "Profile". Note: if you have a non-retirement account with Vanguard, you may have to select Employer plans before you click "Profile"

3. Scroll down to "Beneficiary information" and select "Edit" 

This is your money that you contribute, so it’s yours if you leave. You will have several options of how to take the money with you or you may keep it in the plan—it's your choice.

• GH Benefits Highlights. Our Benefits Highlights public site is accessible to employees and their families.

• GHConnect.net. GHConnect has detailed information. Active eligible employees in Workday have access through OneLogin: ghco.onelogin.com/portal. Joyce/Dayton employees will have access beginning January 2026.

• Ask Benefits. Call Ask Benefits at 855-424-0400 to talk with the experts directly or askbenefits@healthadvocate.com

• Vanguard Participant Services can help with your 401(k). Call 800-523-1188; or online at: vanguard.com. Joyce/Dayton employees will have access beginning January 2026.

• The GHC Retirement Center has lots of info for you about your pension at 800-834-8684 or online at ghretirementcenter.ehr.com. Joyce/Dayton employees will have access beginning January 2026.