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Churches • Ministers • Church Employees

403(b)(9) Church Plans & Minister Retirement Planning

Your ministry and your financial future deserve thoughtful planning. At Lance Hocutt Financial Group, I help ministers, church employees, and church leaders connect retirement-plan decisions with income, investments, housing needs, and family goals.

From our office in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, we offer personal guidance and virtual meetings for clients elsewhere, where our services are available.

Talk With Dr. Lance Contact our office

What would you like help with?

Our church’s retirement plan

Review your current arrangement, your team’s needs, retirement-plan choices, and opportunities for employee education.

Explore planning for your church

Your retirement account is one part of the picture.

Retirement planning starts with the life you want to live and the resources available to support it. We look at your church retirement plan alongside other investments, Social Security benefits you may be eligible for, housing expenses, and family needs.

  • How much income will you need when you retire?
  • What changes if you leave a church-provided parsonage?
  • How will your investments support ongoing withdrawals?
  • What tax questions need attention before you move money?
  • How can your financial decisions support your spouse and family?

I help you connect those decisions and identify the questions that need further attention. When appropriate, I coordinate with your plan administrator, tax professional, and attorney.

Questions ministers and church leaders ask

What is a 403(b)(9) church retirement plan?

A 403(b)(9) retirement income account is a retirement arrangement established or maintained by a church or qualifying church-related organization within the 403(b) framework. Its plan documents describe who can participate and the available contribution, investment, and distribution options. I help you understand how your arrangement fits into your broader financial plan.

Who can participate in a 403(b)(9) church plan?

Eligible church employees and certain ministers may participate, depending on the arrangement and applicable requirements. Participation is not necessarily limited to pastors. We begin with your employment circumstances and the plan’s eligibility provisions rather than assuming that a job title determines your options.

Can a retired minister receive a housing allowance?

A qualifying retired minister may exclude an eligible portion of a pension designated as a housing allowance from federal taxable income, subject to the applicable requirements and limits. This treatment is not automatic for every retirement withdrawal. Confirm the designation, eligibility, and reporting with the responsible organization, plan administrator, and tax professional.

Should I move my church retirement account to an IRA?

We should compare your existing plan with the proposed IRA before you transfer money. Fees, investment choices, withdrawal rules, services, and possible ministerial housing allowance implications all deserve attention. I help you evaluate the financial tradeoffs and coordinate the tax questions with your tax professional.

Can church employees who are not ministers receive a minister’s housing allowance?

Participation in a church retirement plan does not by itself establish eligibility for a ministerial housing allowance. The housing exclusion has separate requirements related to qualifying ministerial services. Church employees should confirm their individual circumstances with a qualified tax professional.

Can Dr. Lance help our church review its retirement plan?

Yes. I help churches and organizations discuss retirement-plan choices, employee education, and how their arrangement supports their team. We start with your current plan, goals, and questions. Plan design, administration, and legal or tax matters may require coordination with the appropriate specialists.

Do I need to live in Tuscaloosa to work with Dr. Lance?

No. Our office is in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and virtual meetings allow us to work with clients elsewhere, subject to applicable registration and service availability. You can discuss your retirement questions without traveling to our office. Contact us to confirm how we can work together in your location.

Explore church and minister retirement planning

Let’s talk about your ministry and your future.

Whether you are planning your own retirement or reviewing options for your church, bring your current plan information and the questions that matter most to you. We’ll start there.

Schedule a Conversation Contact our office

This information is educational and is not tax or legal advice. Eligibility, plan provisions, and individual circumstances affect the available options. Coordinate decisions with your plan administrator and qualified tax or legal professional.

Sources: IRS Publication 571; IRS Publication 517.