20+ YEARS OF MINISTRY EXPERIENCE
Church Retirement Plans That Make Sense
Low-Cost 403(B)(9) Plans Designed Specifically For Churches, With No Administrative Burden
✔ SPECIALIZED 403(B)(9) CHURCH RETIREMENT PLANS
✔ LOW TO ZERO COST ADMINISTRATION
✔ HOUSING ALLOWANCE OPTIMIZATION FOR RETIREMENT
A Retirement Plan Built for Your Ministry
Churches and religious organizations face unique retirement planning challenges—but with the right strategy, pastors and staff can retire with confidence while maximizing their financial benefits.
At Heartwood Financial Planning, we specialize in 403(b)(9) church retirement plans, helping to ensure your ministry receives the tax advantages, housing allowance benefits, and cost efficiencies that come with ERISA-exempt plans.
With no monthly cost options, simplified administration, and values-based investment opportunities, our retirement solutions align with your church’s mission while helping to secure a strong financial future for your staff.
KEY BENEFITS
Why Choose a Church-Specific Retirement Plan?
ERISA-Exempt Status
Avoid unnecessary compliance and administrative burdens.
Multiple Investment Options
Solutions that fit your church’s specific needs and budget Including values-based funds and low-cost index funds.
Zero-Cost Plan Options
Minimize financial strain on your church while maximizing benefits.
Professional Administration
Professional support without burdening church staff.
Housing Allowance Benefits
Helps ensure pastors can maintain their income-tax-free housing allowance into retirement.
403(b)(9) Optimization
Lighter administrative costs and less regulatory rules.
OUR SERVICE PROCESS
How Our
Church Retirement Plans Work
1
Initial Church Consultation
Review of current retirement plan details (if any)
Discussion of goals and financial requirements
Assessment of current costs and benefits
1-2 WEEKS
2
Plan Design & Cost Analysis
Collection of employee census data
Review of available plan design options
Cost-benefit analysis and presentation for church leadership
2-3 WEEKS
3
Board Presentation & Plan Selection
Presentation to church board & leadership team
Q&A session with financial and compliance considerations
Final plan selection & preparation of legal documents
1-2 WEEKS
4
Implementation & Setup
Plan document execution and setup
Administrative partner integration
Employee communication materials & enrollment process
4-6 WEEKS
5
Ongoing Support & Maintenance
Regular plan review meetings
Employee financial education sessions
Annual compliance oversight & administration
Investment advisory support options
INVESTMENT & COST STRUCTURE
Transparent & Values-Based Investment Fees
We believe in full transparency when it comes to investment costs. Our fee structure is designed to be straightforward, fair, and aligned with your financial goals.
With a one-time setup fee, a low administrative cost, and a sliding scale based on assets, we help ensure your investments are managed efficiently while keeping your expenses reasonable.
ONE-TIME SETUP FEE:
$950
ADMINISTRATIVE FEE:
0.4%
INVESTMENT OPTIONS:
✔ LOW-COST FUND SELECTION
✔ VALUES-BASED INVESTMENT OPTIONS
✔ INDEX & MANAGED FUND OPTIONS
SLIDING SCALE BASED ON ASSETS:
1.65%
1.35%
1.20%
1.10%
1.00%
0.90%
$0-$500,000
$500,001 - $1,000,000
$1,000,001 - $2,500,000
$2,500,001 - $5,000,000
$5,000,001 - $10,000,000
$10,000,001 & Above
Who Can Benefit from Our Church Retirement Plans?
Churches of all sizes
looking for cost-effective retirement solutions
Churches using traditional 401(k) plans
that want lower costs & less administrative burden
Churches without existing retirement plans
seeking an ERISA-exempt, tax-advantaged plan.
Churches wanting to maximize pastoral benefits
with housing allowance retention in retirement.
Frequently Asked Questions
-
Churches are exempt from ERISA, meaning they don’t need the costly compliance required for 401(k) plans. A 403(b)(9) church plan is designed specifically for faith-based organizations and offers more flexibility and less administrative work.
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Our process starts with a $950 startup fee which includes seamless rolling over from any existing plan (a la the PATH Act). Following that, we can implement plans with zero monthly cost while still providing professional administration.
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Normally, when you roll assets from an ERISA plan to a non-ERISA plan, the assets have to be liquidated and rolled into the new plan by each participant. However, under the PATH Act, churches specifically can roll plan assets directly from an ERISA plan to a new non-ERISA plan directly, which is very nice.
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Yes, pastors can receive housing allowance benefits in retirement through many church-sponsored plans. This is one of the key advantages of setting up a retirement plan designed for clergy.
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No! We handle everything from setup to compliance, so your staff won’t be burdened with managing salary deferrals, loans, or withdrawals.
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We specialize in church retirement plans and understand the regulatory exemptions & financial advantages available to ministries.
A Word from Seth
“I’ve been close to pastors pretty much my whole Christian life. I’ve seen firsthand the sacrifice that pastors and their family give in order to serve the kingdom of God…
We’re very stewardship-minded at Heartwood.
We recognize that our position—both within the faith community and in our local community—is ultimately a gift from God. It all belongs to Him. Our responsibility is to ask: How do we leverage the influence, resources, and reputation we've been entrusted with to advance God's kingdom?”
DISCOVER YOUR FINANCIAL PATH
Ready to Take the Next Step Toward a Secure Future?
Let Heartwood Financial Planning help you build a retirement plan that aligns with your values!
SETH SCOTT, AAMS™
/ Founder & Lead Financial Planner
✔ CHURCH BOARD MEMBER
✔ 20+ YEARS OF EXPERIENCE AS A WORSHIP LEADER
✔ SPECIALIZED IN PASTORAL FINANCES