2023 RETIREMENT PLAN
Participation in the EPC Retirement Plan is available to all EPC ministers and employees. The Plan—referred to as a 403(b)(9) Defined Contribution Retirement Plan—is specifically designed for church organizations. Churches can make tax-sheltered contributions on behalf of their employees. Participants can make tax-sheltered or Roth elective-deferral contributions. Roth contributions result in tax-free growth and distribution. Any amount your church contributes to your account is fully vested and yours to keep. Individuals aged 50 and older are eligible to make additional “catch up” contributions. Check with your church administrator for more information.
The EPC Plan offers participants a selection of 23 investment options and a brokerage link that provides them with the ability to select from thousands of other investment options beyond the standard lineup such as stocks, Exchange-Traded Products (ETPs), CDs, and more. The plan record-keeper is Fidelity Investments. Through Fidelity, plan participants can access Licensed Investment Advisors at any time for consultation. They can also tap into a wealth of other financial and retirement planning resources. There are no charges for these services to EPC plan participants.
A unique feature of the EPC 403(b)(9) Plan is that ordained ministers (after reaching age 59½, whether actively working or retired) may allocate a portion of their withdrawals to pay housing expenses on a tax-exempt basis, subject to IRS limits. When requesting your retirement account withdrawal, please indicate to Fidelity if you are making the withdrawal for housing expenses and if you are an EPC-ordained minister.
The EPC 403(b)(9) retirement Plan ID number is 89560. For more information, or to access your investment information or check transactions, call 1-800-343-0860 or log on to your account at www.netbenefits.com/epc.
Note that enrollment in the 403(b)(9) Retirement Plan for an EPC employee can occur any time, and is not limited to an open enrollment period.
| 403(b)(9) Defined Contribution Plan Limits | 2023 | 2022 |
| Employee Elective Salary Deferral Limit (Age 49 or younger) |
$22,500 | $20,500 |
| Employee Catch-up Contribution (Age 50 or older by year-end) |
$7,500 | $6,500 |
| Employee Elective Deferral + Catch-up Contribution Contribution Limit (Age 50 or older by year-end) |
$30,000 | $27,000 |
| Defined Contribution Maximum Limit, Employee + Employer (Age 49 or younger) |
$66,000 | $61,000 |
TO ENROLL
To enroll in the EPC’s 403(b)(9) Plan, go to the Fidelity NetBenefits online portal at netbenefits.com/EPC. Once you have created your account, make sure to complete the beneficiary section. When your online enrollment is complete, you will receive email confirmation from Fidelity. Forward this message to your church’s benefits administrator.
Use these quicklinks to navigate to the appropriate section:
Retirement Plan Resources
Cyber Security: Protecting Your Retirement Savings
Fidelity NetBenefits Participant Account
Participant and Beneficiary Designation Forms
Housing Expense Exemption for Ministers Over Age 59½
Contact Information
For more 2023 Open Enrollment information, see the following pages:
2024 Open Enrollment
About Benefits
2023 Medical Plans
2023 Prescription Drug Benefits
2023 Life and Disability Insurance
2023 Dental Plans
2023 Vision Plan
Other 2023 Benefits
Retirement Plan
Housing Expense Exemption FAQs
Medicare Enrollment Planning
Church Administrator Resources
PLAN ID #89560
RETIREMENT PLAN RESOURCES
Investments Options Guide
26-page booklet describing Fidelity’s investment options available in the EPC 403(b)(9) Plan
Brokerage Link Use Information
Handbook explaining the features and benefits of Fidelity’s BrokerageLink portal.
Financial Planning Resources Guide
Retirement readiness and planning, financial basics, tools and resources, and virtual knowledge center.
Retirement Plan Document
Terms and conditions that apply to the EPC’s 403(b)(9) retirement program
Investment Policy Statement
Outlines the general investment policies as adopted by the BRI Board of Directors
CYBER SECURITY: PROTECTING YOUR RETIREMENT SAVINGS
FIDELITY NETBENEFITS PARTICIPANT ACCOUNT
Fidelity NetBenefits provides online access to your account balances, investments, personal rate of return, and more. Additionally, you can manage your investment options, use interactive tools to help you visualize how your retirement savings stack up against those of your peers, and much more.
Also available on NetBenefits is a full curriculum of live online workshops on a range of topics, from budgeting and debt management to college planning and investing. The workshops are available all types of investors. Whether you consider yourself a beginner, intermediate, or advanced, Fidelity has created a workshop fit just for you. To access a calendar of workshops on the NetBenefits portal, after logging in click the “Library” tab, then scroll down and click the “Workshops” link.
The NetBenefits app gives you access to your Fidelity workplace accounts on your mobile device, and is available for Android and Apple iOS.
PARTICIPANT AND BENEFICIARY DESIGNATION FORMS
Beneficiary Designation Update Form
Or use the online portal at www.netbenefits.com/EPC
Transfer/Rollover/Exchange Form
Use to move assets from another retirement plan into the EPC plan, or to consolidate multiple employer-sponsored retirement accounts currently held at Fidelity. When submitting the form, you must include the last financial statement of the assets you wish to transfer/rollover. Prior to starting this process, contact your previous investment provider to see if additional paperwork is required. If your previous investment provider will transfer funds via check, it must be made payable to Fidelity Investments.
Retirement Plan Distribution Form
The Distribution Form is specifically customized to allow a retired EPC-ordained pastor to request tax-free housing withdrawals. Note that unless the participant is submitting aa a “hardship withdrawal,” participants cannot make distributions unless they are retired or terminated.
Salary Reduction Agreement Form
Complete this form and submit to your church’s benefits administrator.
Termination Report Form
When terminating employment, please complete this form and submit to your church’s benefits administrator.
HOUSING EXPENSE EXEMPTION FOR MINISTERS OVER AGE 59½
The EPC Retirement Plan is a 403(b)(9) Defined Contribution Retirement Plan. A unique feature of a 403(b)(9) Church Plan is that ordained ministers may allocate a portion of their retirement plan withdrawals to cover housing expenses on a tax-exempt basis.
Click here for more information regarding the Housing Allowance provision offered in by the EPC’s 403(b)(9) plan.
CONTACT INFORMATION
All paper forms should be sent to:
EPC Benefit Resources, Inc.
5850 T.G. Lee Blvd., Suite 510
Orlando, FL 32822
Fax: 407-930-4492
Email: benefits@epc.org
For retirement planning guidance, contact Fidelity at 877-895-5986.
For questions and/or guidance on the EPC’s 403(b)(9) Retirement Plan, call 800-343-0860.
For further Retirement Plan inquiries, call the EPC Benefit Resources, Inc. office at 407-930-4492.
Information provided in this web site does not constitute legally binding advice. EPC benefits are subject to the provisions of the Medical Plan and Retirement Plan documents available on this web site or in print from EPC Benefit Resources, Inc. (BRI), 5850 T.G. Lee Blvd., Suite 510, Orlando FL 32822. For more information, contact BRI at benefits@epc.org or 407-930-4492 (voice and fax).
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