Celebrating Founders' Day and Looking Ahead

Dear Members,
As we usher in a new year, I am honored to share my thoughts with you in this February edition of our GCU Magazine. On behalf of the entire team at GCU, I want to begin by recognizing our annual Founders’ Day—a meaningful occasion for all of us. This year marks our 133rd anniversary, a milestone that allows us to reflect on the vision of our original founders and how far we have come since those early days in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. Our legacy is built on faith, community support and financial protection for our members. Today, we continue to thrive not only because we hold fast to our guiding values, but also because of our strong financial foundation. We’re pleased to share that two leading rating agencies—KBRA and A.M. Best—have both recently reaffirmed our A- rating, underscoring GCU’s ongoing stability and reliability for our members.

In addition to celebrating our rich heritage and strength, our office is in full swing supporting our members throughout this busy tax season. Since many of our insurance and annuity products are tax deferred, only those who have taken a distribution from GCU this past year, will receive tax documents from us. We expect to have all relevant forms ready and mailed out by the end of this month. They will also be accessible in your member portal at GCUusa.com. We hope this convenient, online availability will make managing your tax information simpler and more secure.
As a friendly reminder, if you are at least 73 years old and own a Traditional or SEP IRA, you will need to take a Required Minimum Distribution (RMD). We will be sending out letters to those affected, and we will also place a copy in your member portal by the end of the month. Please remember that you have the option to forward your RMD to charity—including our very own GCU Foundation—if you wish. If you choose to do so, we encourage you to reach out to us for guidance on how to process this contribution, and of course, consult your tax advisor to understand the potential benefits of a charitable distribution.

Thank you for being a part of GCU’s continuing journey. We are excited for another year of service, stewardship and celebrating the timeless values that have guided us for more than a century. Together, let us honor our founders by looking forward to a bright future—grounded in faith, dedication and the security that comes with proven financial strength.

Jeremy Stephenson | GCU COO