Your organization has sponsored a 403(b) retirement plan. This plan is defined in section 403(b) of the US Internal Revenue Code. A 403(b) retirement plan is specifically designed for non-profit organizations and has even more benefits for those working in organizations where some staff may have “Ministerial Status” (licensed, ordained or commissioned). Churches and Mission Sending organizations are examples. Your organization’s retirement plan allows you to put away money for retirement. This is called a Voluntary Contribution or an Elective Contribution. You organization’s plan may also include an employer contribution in the form of an Employer Basic or an Employer Matching. Contact your Plan Administrator for the details.

You are eligible to participate in the plan on a voluntary basis upon hire. Your organization will notify you when you become eligible to receive employer contributions, if part of the plan. There may be an age and or length of service requirement before you can receive employer contributions. You will be provided with a User Id and Password to access the Envoy Web Portal, where you can enroll in the retirement plan.

Envoy Financial is a financial services support organization headquartered in Colorado Springs, CO.  Our mission is to implement and service retirement plans for organizations and their employees around the world. Envoy Financial exclusively serves the Christian community and has done so since 1991, helping you to make wise stewardship decisions about your “Future-Funded Ministry Plan™“.

Each year the amount of money you can contribute to your retirement plan account increases. View/download the 2012 Contribution Limits.  View/download the 2011 Contribution Limits.

The most critical decision you will make is not how much you contribute, but that you begin to contribute. We see the importance of contributing something now, rather than waiting with the hope of doing more later.

Your employer and plan administrator will inform you. Your enrollment book, provided by your employer or available on line, also details the specifics of the plan. Look for the Summary Plan Description in the booklet. 

Retirement plan monies in a 403(b) plan are limited to mutual funds or annuities.

A “No-Load” Mutual Fund does not have a sales charge for either putting money into the fund or transferring money out of the fund. A desirable characteristic!

“NAV” stands for Net Asset Value. This term is also used to refer to mutual funds that do not have sales charges for getting into or out of the fund. It is another way to refer to a “No-Load” mutual fund.

One of your choices may be to have your account actively managed by a separately retained and compensated professional asset manager. Your employer may have decided to provide the option of using a professional asset manager for your account. The reasons given for using this service include:

1. Lack of knowledge about investing
2. Too busy, or out of the country, to pay close attention
3. Want more protection from the ups and downs of the market

You should review your investments at least annually. You can easily do an Account Review on the Envoy Web Portal.

Traditionally, a 403(b) retirement plan has only allowed for money to be set aside for retirement on a “Before-tax” basis. You set aside a certain amount of money and this lowers your gross income. Federal, State (and FICA (or SECA in the case of someone with ministerial status)) taxes are assessed on a lower amount of income. January 1, 2006 brought the addition of the Roth provision to the 403(b) tax laws. If your ministry has added the Roth provision to your retirement plan, then you can set money aside on an “After-tax” basis.

A 403(b) retirement plan does allow for you to transfer assets from other retirement accounts such as 401(k)s, other 403(b)s or IRAs. You can review your other retirement accounts with a Service Team member to determine whether transferring your other accounts will be in your best interest.

Envoy Financial will prepare all of the paperwork for you. Your job will be to review for accuracy, sign and return. Here are the steps:

1. Paperwork filled in and emailed to you password protected
2. Download and review, making any required corrections, if any
3. Sign and fax to Envoy Financial
4. That's it, you are done!

If you cannot receive emails or emails with attachments, please notify Envoy Financial and other arrangements will be made.

Please contact Envoy Financial’s Service Team at (888) 879-1376, option 1 or via email .

Upon retiring from your organization, you can begin to take distributions from your retirement account. An Envoy Service Team member can help you structure those distributions in the way that is best for you. Under normal circumstances you may not take money out of your retirement account until age 59½ or you may incur penalty taxes. Distributions before age 59½ can be made in the cases of death, disability or financial hardship. You may also leave the money in the account to grow until such time as it is needed or you reach age 70½. Some plans allow zero net cost interest loans. Check with your plan description or call Envoy Financial for clarification.

Access the Envoy Web Portal using your User Id and Password.  Click "Take Action" on the top menu and then select "Change Investment Elections" from the left menu.  We will contact your organization and instruct them regarding your new contribution amount.

Access the Envoy Web Portal using your User Id and Password.  Click "My Profile" on the top menu and then select "Personal Info." from the left menu.

Access the Envoy Web Portal using your User Id and Password.  Click "My Profile" on the top menu and then select "Beneficiaries" from the left menu.

Yes, online access is available 24/7. Access the Envoy Web Portal using your User Id and Password.  Click "My Account" on the top menu and then select the item you want from the left menu.

No. If you have reportable income, in other words you are still working, you do not have to start taking Required Minimum Distributions until you stop working. This is a unique provision under the 403(b) tax laws only.

Envoy Financial will continue to serve your retirement planning needs. Generally when you leave the employment of your organization, you have three choices regarding your retirement plan money:

1. Leave the money invested in the current plan
2. Roll it over into your new employer’s plan
3. Set up a personal retirement account through Envoy Financial

It is important that you contact Envoy Financial when you change employers or retire. It is also important to update your contact information on the Web Portal when you move, change phone numbers, etc. This will assure continued and uninterrupted service. As our CEO says, “We are joined at the hip until you want a separation“.