For Church Leaders & Ministry Teams
Church Retirement Planning for Pastors & Staff
Caring for your ministry team includes helping them prepare for their financial future. I help church leaders review retirement-plan choices, understand their current arrangement, and identify opportunities for employee education.
At Lance Hocutt Financial Group in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, we begin with your church’s goals, budget, and team. Whether you already offer retirement benefits or are exploring your options, we can help organize the next steps.
Discuss Your Church’s Retirement Plan Explore Church & Minister Planning
Where should our church start?
Start with the people you want to serve and the benefits your church can reasonably support. Consider your pastors, ministry staff, and other employees, along with your current retirement arrangement and long-term budget.
If you already have a plan, we review its available information before discussing changes. If you do not, we help identify questions to address with potential providers and the professionals responsible for plan design and administration.
Questions to ask about your retirement benefits
- Who can participate? Understand the plan’s eligibility provisions and how they apply to your employees.
- How will contributions work? Review employee contributions, any church contributions, and the effect on your budget.
- What does the arrangement cost? Ask about administrative, investment, account, and advisory fees.
- What investment choices are available? Consider how employees will understand and select among them.
- Who handles administration? Clarify responsibility for records, payroll coordination, required notices, and other plan obligations.
- How will employees receive guidance? Discuss enrollment support, ongoing education, and access to personal financial planning.
Is a 403(b)(9) arrangement appropriate for our church?
A 403(b)(9) retirement income account is one arrangement available within the church retirement-plan framework. Whether it fits your organization depends on eligibility, plan provisions, your team’s needs, and the options available through the provider.
We help you compare the financial features and identify questions for the provider, administrator, and qualified tax or legal professionals. The decision should reflect your church’s circumstances.
Help your team understand the benefit.
Offering a retirement plan is only part of the process. Employees also need to understand how to enroll, how contributions work, what investments are available, and where to turn with questions.
I help explain financial choices in plain language. Education can connect the retirement benefit with employees’ broader goals, while individual planning addresses their personal circumstances.
Keep ministers’ housing questions in the conversation.
Ministers may have housing considerations that require separate attention when planning retirement income. Participation in a church retirement plan does not automatically establish eligibility for a ministerial housing allowance.
Questions about eligibility, pension designations, and tax reporting should be addressed with the responsible organization, plan administrator, and tax professional. We help connect those questions with the broader financial-planning discussion.
What should we bring to our first conversation?
- Your current plan documents or provider information.
- An overview of the employees you want the plan to serve.
- Your current contribution arrangements, if any.
- Available information about fees and investments.
- Your goals, budget considerations, and questions.
You do not need every detail before we meet. We can begin with what you have and identify the information needed to move forward.
Let’s discuss the future of your ministry team.
We offer meetings in Tuscaloosa and virtual conversations where our services are available. Start with your church’s goals, and we’ll discuss how we can help.
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This information is educational and is not tax or legal advice. Plan eligibility, design, administration, and legal requirements depend on the organization and arrangement. Consult the appropriate plan administrator and qualified tax or legal professionals.
Additional information: IRS Publication 571 .
