Industry · Form 5500 business code 511120
Periodical Publishers: retirement plans
Plans whose sponsor entered this principal business activity code on Form 5500.
Form 5500 information is as filed by the plan administrator with the Department of Labor and may be amended. Figures reflect the plan year shown, not current balances. The business code is chosen by the filer from the list in the Form 5500 instructions.
75 retirement plans in periodical publishers with 100 or more participants filed Form 5500 for plan year 2024 (70 defined contribution, 5 defined benefit). All Form 5500 pension filers in the group reported 79,735 participant records and $11.2B in net assets.
The median defined contribution plan held $104,323 per participant, well above the national median of $53,031, and its employer put in $2,606 per active participant (national: $2,174). Among plans reporting Schedule C compensation the median was $160 per participant against $123 nationally.
Employers contributed $205M and participants $376M during the year, and the plans paid out $1.08B in benefits.
In 2009 the same group numbered 141 plans with $7.19B; by 2024 it was 75 plans (down 47%) and $11.2B (up 56%). From plan year 2023 the 100-participant line counts participants with account balances, which moved many plans to the short form.
Medians compared with all US plans
| Median plan, plan year 2024 | Industry: DC | US: DC | Industry: DB | US: DB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net assets per participant | $104,323 | $53,031 | $196,883 | $86,234 |
| Employer contributions per active participant | $2,606 | $2,174 | $24,585 | $10,244 |
| Schedule C compensation per participant | $160 | $123 | $455 | $344 |
| Schedule C compensation, share of net assets | 0.16% | 0.26% | 0.38% | 0.42% |
| Administrative expenses per participant | $154 | $116 | $960 | $527 |
Medians across plans with 100 or more participants (70 DC and 5 DB plans with a Schedule H here). Fee medians cover plans reporting an amount. DC: defined contribution, such as 401(k) and 403(b). DB: defined benefit pension.
Distribution of DC plans
| Measure | 25th percentile | Median | 75th percentile | Plans |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net assets per participant | $65,588 | $104,323 | $147,376 | 70 |
| Employer contributions per active participant | $1,204 | $2,606 | $4,997 | 63 |
| Schedule C compensation per participant | $64.77 | $160 | $336 | 67 |
| Administrative expenses per participant | $57.80 | $154 | $306 | 68 |
Trend by plan year
| Plan year | Plans 100+ | Participants | Net assets | Employer contributions | Participant contributions | Median DC assets / participant | Median DC Sch. C / participant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025partial | 14 | 16,100 | $2.02B | $16.1M | $39.6M | $97,570 | $267 |
| 2024 | 75 | 79,735 | $11.2B | $205M | $376M | $104,323 | $160 |
| 2023 | 79 | 84,036 | $10.2B | $203M | $363M | $85,544 | $148 |
| 2022 | 81 | 88,265 | $9.02B | $217M | $364M | $71,637 | $133 |
| 2021 | 84 | 96,346 | $12.2B | $212M | $347M | $95,261 | $145 |
| 2020 | 91 | 97,603 | $11.4B | $247M | $334M | $84,905 | $134 |
| 2019 | 96 | 103,501 | $10.3B | $202M | $328M | $76,882 | $115 |
| 2018 | 102 | 104,613 | $8.45B | $268M | $331M | $60,710 | $95.14 |
| 2017 | 107 | 111,591 | $9.91B | $227M | $343M | $64,617 | $72.58 |
| 2016 | 114 | 125,679 | $9.48B | $279M | $345M | $56,509 | $66.12 |
| 2015 | 114 | 130,848 | $9.17B | $265M | $343M | $53,892 | $58.57 |
| 2014 | 118 | 132,170 | $9.64B | $216M | $341M | $53,253 | $47.42 |
| 2013 | 120 | 131,813 | $9.01B | $222M | $285M | $52,636 | $31.56 |
| 2012 | 128 | 138,033 | $8.24B | $250M | $283M | $45,187 | $32.31 |
| 2011 | 129 | 143,705 | $7.59B | $244M | $271M | $42,072 | $30.45 |
| 2010 | 133 | 146,734 | $7.48B | $197M | $272M | $43,017 | $31.01 |
| 2009 | 141 | 167,599 | $7.19B | $217M | $287M | $35,031 | $28.56 |
Plan year is the year in which the plan year began. The drop in large plans from 2023 follows a rule change: the 100-participant line now counts participants with account balances, so many plans moved to the short form.
Provider share
Service provider organisations named most often on the Schedule C of the 72 plans on this page's list, by number of plans. A plan usually names several providers.
Largest plans
The 40 largest by participants of 72 plans with a page on this site.
| Plan | Sponsor | State | Type | Participants | Net assets | Per participant | Employer / active | Sch. C / participant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Relx Inc. US Retirement Plan | Relx Inc. | NY | DB | 8,314 | $1.03B | $123,509 | — | $470 |
| Morningstar, Inc. 401(k) Plan | Morningstar, Inc. | IL | DC | 5,250 | $1.02B | $194,897 | $6,658 | $50.46 |
| Ebsco Savings and Profit Sharing Plan | Ebsco Industries, Inc. | AL | DC | 5,067 | $731M | $144,254 | $8,108 | $56.69 |
| Cenveo Worldwide Limited Pension Plan | Cenveo Worldwide Limited | CT | DB | 3,137 | $154M | $49,134 | $24,585 | $269 |
| Bloomberg Industry Group, Inc. 401(k) Plan | Bloomberg Industry Group, Inc. | VA | DC | 2,276 | $493M | $216,759 | $8,785 | $46.65 |
| Flynt Entities 401(k) Plan | Flynt Management Group LLC | CA | DC | 2,007 | $34.4M | $17,134 | $238 | $77.81 |
| The National Geographic Society 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan | National Geographic Society | DC | DC | 1,202 | $162M | $135,030 | $4,224 | $15.24 |
| Rent Group Inc., Thrift & Retirement Plan | Rent Group Inc. | GA | DC | 1,155 | $92.7M | $80,296 | $2,606 | $21.05 |
| Bna Employees Retirement Plan | Bloomberg Industry Group, Inc. | VA | DB | 1,145 | $313M | $273,046 | $16,959 | $455 |
| International Data Group, Inc. Employee Stock Ownership Plan | International Data Group, Inc. | MA | DC | 1,106 | $2.9M | $2,653 | — | — |
| Global Growth Holdings, Inc. Profit Sharing Plan and Trust | Global Growth Holdings, Inc. | NC | DC | 1,098 | $22.3M | $20,275 | $1 | $222 |
| The 401(k) Partnership of Trusted Media Brands, Inc. | Trusted Media Brands, Inc. | NY | DC | 1,075 | $142M | $132,504 | — | $220 |
| Future US 401(k) Plan | Future US Inc. | NY | DC | 1,029 | $65.7M | $63,803 | $1,207 | $88.02 |
| 14 W Administrative Services, LLC. 401(k) Savings & Retirement Plan | 14W Administrative Services LLC | MD | DC | 1,001 | $128M | $128,216 | $2,506 | $88.44 |
| Sandhills 401(k) Plan | Sandhills Global, Inc. | NE | DC | 966 | $94.3M | $97,570 | $0 | $173 |
| Crain Communications Inc. 401(k) Plan | Crain Communications Inc. | MI | DC | 959 | $167M | $174,034 | $3,240 | $209 |
| Employee Savings Incentive Thrift Plan of Forbes Media LLC | Forbes Media LLC | NJ | DC | 924 | $157M | $169,959 | $6,285 | $111 |
| Employees' Retirement Plan of the National Geographic Society | National Geographic Society | DC | DB | 856 | $169M | $196,883 | — | $1,404 |
| Hanley Wood, DBA Zonda 401(k) Plan | Hanley Wood, DBA Zonda | CA | DC | 833 | $56.1M | $67,382 | $1,053 | $201 |
| Highlights Family of Companies Retirement Plan | Highlights for Children, Inc. | OH | DC | 667 | $73.3M | $109,965 | $3,963 | $109 |
| The Atlantic 401(k) Plan | The Atlantic Monthly Group LLC | DC | DC | 625 | $63.9M | $102,263 | $3,264 | $67.22 |
| The Massachusetts Medical Society Savings and Investment Plan | Massachusetts Medical Society | MA | DC | 602 | $174M | $288,259 | $8,543 | $243 |
| Haymarket Media, Inc. Employee's 401(k) Savings Plan | Haymarket Media, Inc. | NY | DC | 581 | $76.1M | $130,985 | $5,403 | $443 |
| Consumers Reports 401(k) Plan for Management and Exempt Employees | Consumers Reports, Inc. | NY | DC | 543 | $255M | $469,117 | $15,809 | $88.91 |
| Bradley Media Holdings, Inc. 401(k) Plan | Bradley Media Holdings, Inc. | DC | DC | 525 | $45.4M | $86,485 | $2,673 | $114 |
| Newsmax Media 401(k) Plan | Newsmax Media, Inc. | FL | DC | 464 | $17.9M | $38,495 | $3,111 | $231 |
| Randall-Reilly, LLC 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan | Randall-Reilly, LLC | AL | DC | 452 | $32.1M | $71,052 | $845 | $235 |
| Massachusetts Medical Society Pension Plan | Massachusetts Medical Society | MA | DB | 449 | $141M | $313,640 | $47,575 | $897 |
| BNP Media 401(k) Plan | BNP Media, Inc. | MI | DC | 427 | $59.1M | $138,402 | — | $548 |
| Outside 401(k) Retirement Plan | Outside Interactive, Inc. | CO | DC | 422 | $22.7M | $53,901 | $0 | $115 |
| Simplify Compliance 401(k) Plan | Simplify Compliance, LLC | TN | DC | 414 | $39.6M | $95,692 | $1,612 | $267 |
| Consumers Reports 401(k) Plan for Guild- Represented Employees | Consumers Reports, Inc. | NY | DC | 410 | $109M | $265,646 | $10,494 | $58.17 |
| The N2 Company's 401(k) Plan | The N2 Company | DE | DC | 407 | $21.9M | $53,916 | $2,744 | $368 |
| The Channel Company 401(k) Plan | The Channel Company, LLC | MA | DC | 406 | $36.5M | $89,861 | $2,507 | $20.74 |
| Wyanoke Deferred Compensation Plan | The Wyanoke Group, Inc. | NJ | DC | 383 | $48.2M | $125,950 | $1,757 | $33.95 |
| Farm Journal, Inc. 401(k) Savings Plan | Farm Journal, Inc. | MO | DC | 347 | $32.9M | $94,932 | $1,518 | $34.88 |
| America's Test Kitchen, LP 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan & Trust | America's Test Kitchen, LP | MA | DC | 343 | $34.0M | $99,181 | $2,986 | $390 |
| The Economist Group 401(k) Plan | The Economist Newspaper Group Incorporated | NY | DC | 332 | $49.7M | $149,691 | $4,862 | $111 |
| Active Interest Media 401(k) Plan | Active Interest Media Holdco,inc. | IA | DC | 317 | $16.8M | $52,963 | $1,434 | $333 |
| Jama Software, Inc. 401(k) Plan | Jama Software, Inc. | OR | DC | 315 | $30.2M | $95,972 | $8,504 | $388 |
By plan size
By state
Questions and answers
How many retirement plans are there in periodical publishers?
75 plans with 100 or more participants filed Form 5500 for plan year 2024, out of 113 pension plans on the full form. Smaller plans file Form 5500-SF and are counted separately where shown.
What is the typical 401(k) balance in periodical publishers?
The median defined contribution plan reported $104,323 in net assets per participant (middle half of plans: $65,588 to $147,376); nationally it was $53,031. This is a plan-level average that includes former employees, not a typical person's balance.
What do employers contribute in periodical publishers?
The median defined contribution plan received $2,606 in employer contributions per active participant, against $2,174 nationally. Plans with no employer contribution are included at zero.
What are average 401(k) fees in periodical publishers?
Among defined contribution plans that report any Schedule C compensation, the median was $160 per participant and 0.16% of net assets (nationally $123 and 0.26%). Schedule C leaves out fund expense ratios and fees the employer pays, so it understates total cost.
Where does this come from?
Form 5500 annual reports in the EBSA research files, with filings received through 24 Aug 2026. Medians are computed by this site across plans with 100 or more participants.
Provenance
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration, Form 5500 research files, public domain, with filings received through 24 Aug 2026. Totals count every pension plan on the full form; medians and the plan list cover plans with 100 or more participants. See the methodology.