Why Choose Servant Solutions
A strong retirement investment plan is one of the most tangible ways to care for the people who serve so faithfully, and we make it easy to offer.
We understand what weighs on ministry leaders. Lean budgets. Confusing tax rules. The challenge of keeping talented people. And paperwork that pulls you away from your calling. Our church retirement plan solves those problems instead of adding to them.
Zero Cost to Get Started
Begin offering the plan to your staff at no charge. No setup fees, no surprises.
Exceptionally Low Fees
Our nonprofit status keeps expenses remarkably low, so more of your team’s savings stay invested.
No Form 5500 Filings
We spare you the time-consuming federal paperwork other plans require.
Free Financial Planning
Every member gets personal, professional guidance at no cost: a true partner, not just a plan.
Retirement Investment Plan Advantages
- Begin offering the plan at no charge
- No Form 5500 filings required for employers
- Tax-free housing allowance advantage for eligible ministers
- Employer contributions not subject to Social Security tax at the time of contribution
- Rollovers from other eligible plans possible without tax consequences
- No minimum contribution required to open or maintain an account
- FREE financial education and consultations with a financial planning professional
- Independent, quarterly performance monitoring
Flexible Investment Options for Every Kind of Saver
Building retirement savings takes two things: carefully diversified investments and consistent saving habits. We believe in those principles for a simple reason: they work.
Our plan offers three clear investment paths, so every member can match their style and goals. And no one has to figure it out alone.
Retirement Plan Documents
Ready to learn more about the Servant Solutions Retirement Plan? All the details can be accessed below!
You can view or download the Summary Plan Description and Retirement Plan Document here, which contain updated information about all aspects of the plan.
If you have any questions about the documents, you can always contact us at any time.
Servant Solutions Summary Retirement Plan Document
Servant Solutions Full Retirement Plan Document
Transparent, Low-Cost Fee Structure
Wise stewardship means understanding every dollar. So let’s be clear about fees because you deserve to know exactly what you’re paying and why.
Every retirement plan has three types of expenses:
- Investment expense: the fee charged by fund managers
- Recordkeeping expense: the fee Principal charges to maintain each account
- Administrative expense: the fee that supports our day-to-day operations
Here’s our commitment: we work hard to keep these fees as low as possible. Our plan uses low-cost mutual funds and LifeFund portfolios, including index funds. And because we’ve consolidated contributions from over 1,600 churches and organizations, we pass those savings on to your team through lower expenses. No hidden fees. No confusing fine print. Just honest, faithful stewardship.
Performance You Can See
You should be able to see exactly how the plan performs over time. That’s why all of our funds are reviewed each quarter by an independent consulting firm for performance and value.
This ongoing, outside review means your staff’s accounts always get the careful attention they deserve. Our recordkeeper, Principal®, updates quarterly performance returns and daily year-to-date results regularly, so the information is always within reach.
Remember: past performance does not guarantee future results, but wise planning and research pave the way to a peaceful, secure future.
Quarterly Performance Returns
Interested in seeing general long-term performance of investment strategies? You’ll find information here that can paint a clearer picture of returns. Remember: past performance does not guarantee future results. These reports are meant to provide general insight only.
Why Transfer Restrictions Protect Your Team
Retirement investing is a long-term strategy. To protect that strategy, Principal limits how often participants can trade or transfer between certain investment options during a calendar year.
Why does this matter to you? Two reasons:
- It keeps costs low. Limiting frequent trades reduces expenses for everyone in the plan.
- It encourages wise habits. Sticking with a long-term plan rather than reacting to every market swing lays a strong foundation for reaching retirement goals.
Once a participant reaches the allowed number of transfers out of an option, they must wait for the holding period to elapse before transferring back in. Contributions into that option are never affected. It’s a simple guardrail that helps your people invest with discipline and confidence.
View Current Transfer Restrictions
Retirement Plan Frequently Asked Questions
Who is eligible to become a member of the Retirement Plan and how do I enroll?
The Servant Solutions Retirement Plan accepts contributions from any Church of God congregation, agency, organization, or institution. It also accepts contributions from any church or church-related organization that shares common religious bonds and convictions with the Church of God (and is not already affiliated with another denomination). If you work for one of these eligible institutions and are receiving compensation from them, you can become a member of the Plan! Missionaries and self-employed ministers are also eligible. For more information, contact us!
How much can I contribute to my Retirement account?
To learn more, view the contribution limits for the current year.
How can I best contribute to my Retirement account?
Servant Solutions always encourages church employers to contribute on behalf of their employees whenever possible. An employer contribution is sometimes called a “fringe benefit” and is in addition to an employee’s taxable income. Employees can elect for withholding from their paycheck that can be contributed as pre-tax, after-tax, and/or Roth contributions. And Employers can make additional pre-tax benefit contributions on behalf of their employees up to generous IRS limits. Contact Servant Solutions for more information.
Members can submit contributions electronically or by check. Learn more about electronic contribution remittance or download the remittance form for check contributions.
Why are there multiple investment options in the Retirement Plan?
Servant Solutions offers a number of investment options which have been carefully constructed to meet the needs of varying ages, time horizons, and risk tolerances. Detailed investment descriptions and information is available here.
How often do I receive statements?
Statements are printed and mailed quarterly. They are also available online for those who opt out of a printed mailing. You can access your account in a secure environment by clicking on “Personal Account Login” at the top of this page. Once logged in to your account, click on “My Profile” and update your Preferences.
How often does Servant Solutions mail the Servant Solutions newsletter?
The Servant Solutions periodic newsletter is designed to keep members informed of issues and events that are important to retirement planning. This newsletter is mailed two to four times annually and is also available on our website.
How can I obtain information on my retirement account in between statements?
The Servant Solutions periodic newsletter is designed to keep members informed of issues and events that are important to retirement planning. This newsletter is mailed two to four times annually and is also available on our website.
How often does Servant Solutions mail the Servant Solutions newsletter?
You will automatically receive account statements quarterly. You may also access your account online with Principal in a secure environment by clicking on “Personal Account Login” at the top of this page.
Why does Servant Solutions need consulting partners like Blue Trust and Principal?
Servant Solutions’ assets are significant and require top-notch oversight. Principal is one of the world’s largest financial service companies and works with a number of church retirement plans. Through their work, Servant Solutions is able to secure some of the best money managers and mutual funds available in the market. Blue Trust provides investment monitoring and counsel to the Board of Trustees. They help us provide you with the best possible investment options.
Who governs the Retirement Plan?
The Retirement Plan has a Board of Trustees which has ten members. Servant Solutions, through ratification by the General Assembly of the Church of God, selects persons from both the clergy and lay ranks of the Church of God, each of whom bring specific financial and administrative skills as volunteers. Servant Solutions is then accountable for its work to the General Assembly of the Church of God through the Ministries Council of the Church of God.
What happens to my account balance if I die before I begin retirement benefits?
If you die prior to the time you receive payment of any of your retirement benefits under the Plan, your surviving spouse will be entitled to the ownership of the account. If you have no spouse, your account balance will be paid in a lump sum distribution to your beneficiary, or to your estate if there is no beneficiary designated. See the Retirement Plan Document for more details.
How do I know if I am putting away enough money for retirement?
Servant Solutions provides some wonderful tools to help you answer this question. The Saving for Retirement Worksheet is available upon request and on this website. The worksheet has all the tables and calculations to help you know if you are contributing enough. If you would like additional help answering this important question, we would encourage you to contact us to arrange for a consultation with our Certified Financial Planner.
What are my options when I'm ready to receive retirement benefits?
The plan is very flexible in providing a wide spectrum of retirement options. From annuities to installments to periodic distributions elected by the member, the various options allow the member to determine the best method of payments. Review the Retirement Plan Document or Summary Plan Description for more detail, or the Retirement Decisions workbook is also available to help provide additional guidance. If you have any question, please contact Servant Solutions.
How does the "minister's housing allowance" work?
This feature of the tax law provides a tremendous benefit for ministers. Section 107 of the IRS code permits a minister of the gospel to exclude from gross income a church designated housing allowance. Further, a special Revenue Ruling by the IRS (Rev. Rul. 75-22) allows Servant Solutions to designate the housing allowance for retired ministers as coverage applicable to their church retirement income. Visit the minister’s housing allowance page to learn more.
Does the "housing allowance" still work for me when I retire?
Yes! this may be one of the biggest benefits available financially for credentialed ministers. Church retirement plans (such as Servant Solutions) can designate a housing allowance for retired ministers receiving income from their 403b(9) retirement account. As retired clergy, you are eligible for the housing allowance income exclusion in retirement on all–or at minimum–a good portion of your annual retirement distribution amount, provided your ministerial credentials are still active during your retirement period.
What fees are involved?
What Are These Fees?
When reviewing your account history, you will see monthly fees assessed to your account. Our commitment to you: we will work hard to keep those fees as low as possible. You may wonder, why do you have to pay these fees?
All Retirement Plans Have Fees
There are three types of expenses incurred by all retirement plans: 1) investment, 2) recordkeeping, and 3) administrative.
- Investment expense is the fee charged by the fund managers.
- Record keeping expense is the fee charged by Principal to maintain your retirement account.
- Administrative expense is the fee charged by Servant Solutions to support our day-to-day operations.
You can review the investment fee charged by each fund manager by clicking here (reference the far right-hand column). In addition to the investment fee, each participant is charged a monthly recordkeeping and administrative fee.
Our Commitment to You: The Lowest Fees Possible
At Servant Solutions, we are committed to keeping expenses low. The Servant Solutions Retirement Plan utilizes a variety of mutual funds and LifeFund portfolios (both include index funds) that are considered low cost funds.
Also, we offer our participants the advantage of consolidating smaller retirement accounts into a larger plan. We have consolidated contributions from over 1,600 churches/organizations. Because of this consolidation, the Servant Solutions Retirement Plan is able to offer our participants lower expenses.
Your Next Steps
Ready to Enroll Your Organization?
Start your enrollment checklist here to begin the process. We’ll guide you through every step.
Still Deciding?
Want to learn more before you commit? Contact our team here or call (800) 844-8983. A real person is ready to help no pressure, just guidance.