While “retirement” may look different for you than it does for your friend or neighbor, the common thread is that it takes planning and preparation. The Church Benefits Board 403(b)(9) Retirement Plan (“CBB 403(b)(9) Plan”) is a type of church retirement plan that has distinctive advantages for those who participate:

The CBB 403(b)(9) Plan offers a variety of investment options including target date funds, risk-based funds, and do-it-yourself options. Current participants who have questions about which investment option is best for them can call Empower at (866) 467-7756 for free investment advice.

When participating in a sponsored church plan, you may be eligible to reduce your taxable income-even after retirement. The CBB 403(b)(9) Plan is a “Church Plan” as recognized by the IRS. This means it may be possible for you to claim a ministerial housing allowance on your withdrawals. This benefit is not available with an IRA (individual retirement account) or most other plans. Only one set up as a “Church Plan” can offer this tax advantage. Learn more about the housing allowance advantage for clergy.

With this plan, all fiduciary responsibility for the investment lineup is taken care of by the Church Benefits Board and the Investment/Finance Committee.

The fee for Church Benefits Board (CBB) and Empower to administer the plan is 79 basis points (bps). The total expense ratio for a majority of our CBB investment options is between 81 – 91 bps. Therefore, the retirement fees for a majority of our participants are less than 1%.

All employee and employer contributions are 100% vested. This means that all contributions are yours immediately, regardless of how long you’ve been a plan participant.

Church Benefits Board partners with the Empower Retirement Solutions Group to offer FINRA licensed, personalized financial and retirement savings advice for all plan participants. There is no additional fee for this value-added service, and advice is effective immediately. These advisors will assist you with questions related to your current investments, housing allowance, rollovers, distributions, and offer you robust advice. Learn more about Financial Advice.

Active participants of the CBB 403(b)(9) Plan can meet with one of Empower’s CFP® professionals to build a comprehensive financial plan, free-of-charge.

When an active participant of the CBB 403(b)(9) Plan completes their financial plan with Empower, Church Benefits Board (CBB) will add $500 to their Church Benefits Board 403(b)(9) retirement account* **. CBB is providing this financial planning incentive through generous grant support. Our goal is to encourage all of our participants to improve their financial well-being by building a financial plan.

*The $500 incentive is available while funds last, so do not delay. Schedule your financial planning appointment today.

**The $500 incentive is processed on a quarterly basis. Deposits of the $500 incentive into a participant’s Church Benefits Board 403(b)(9) retirement account can take up to 90 days.

What’s your plan? To learn more about the financial planning process, visit churchbenefits.org/financialplanning.

Accounts are administered through Empower, the second-largest retirement services provider in the United States.

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Our most recent Benefits Book includes an overview of our 403(b)(9) retirement plan, insurance options, and financial wellness programs and resources. View the Benefits Book.

If you have questions about retirement, insurance, or any other benefits, contact the Church Benefits Board team. We also have a page of frequently asked questions.