The YMCA Retirement Fund is a not-for-profit pension fund, organized and operated for the purpose of providing retirement and other benefits for employees of YMCAs throughout the United States. The Fund sponsors the YMCA Retirement Fund Retirement Plan, which is a defined contribution, money purchase, church pension plan. The Fund also maintains the YMCA Retirement Fund Tax-Deferred Savings Plan, which is a church retirement income account plan. Participating YMCAs and individual participants elect trustees who govern the Fund through its Board of Trustees.
 

Fifteen talented men and women serve as Trustees. Ten are YMCA volunteers, and five more are employed officers of a YMCA. Each has professional expertise in one or more of the following six areas: investment management, employee benefits, communications, technology, pension and tax law, and organizational strategy. The Board meets four times a year with the YMCA Retirement Fund management team to set the direction for the Fund's primary activities: managing investments and providing benefits for YMCA employees and retirees. The diversity of talent and spirit of cooperation within these two teams keep the Fund on track with its mission.
 

The Board of Trustees appoints the Fund's Chief Executive Officer (CEO). The CEO hires Management to provide guidance to all aspects of daily Fund operations.
 

The Fund's benefits are:

• Retirement income for participants and their beneficiaries (see annuity)
• Opportunities for tax-deferred savings for retirement
• Income for participants who are permanently and totally disabled
• Death benefits for beneficiaries of active and retired participants

 

Unlike a typical 401(k) retirement account, retirement savings at the YMCA Retirement Fund were protected during stormy economic times as a result of the unique structure of the plans. Not once in the Fund's near 90-year history have account balances ever gone down.

Another important distinction from typical 401(k) plans is that the Fund's two plans are Church Plans. Only Church Plans can commingle assets for investment purposes and provide annuities. This allows the Retirement Fund to issue annuities at a better rate and lower cost.

 

Defined contribution plans, like the YMCA Retirement Fund, 401(k)s, 403(b)s, etc., are not insured by the government.
 

Each year the Fund's Actuary, Buck Consulting, reviews all the accounts and performs a valuation. This valuation determines the present value of all future liabilities. Approximately 75% of all of the Fund's liabilities are payable in the form of an annuity, which means that they will be paid out over a long period of time, rather than as a lump sum. Constant monitoring of the investment results and liabilities provides the Fund with an opportunity to mitigate risk.
 

The Fund's financial statements are audited by an independent CPA firm. The Fund reports to the New York State Insurance Department, viewed by many as the toughest state insurance department in the country. The Fund also reports to the IRS and the Department of Labor.
 

The YMCA Retirement Fund can state with the greatest of certainty that every retiree and beneficiary will get every penny of the retirement annuity promised to them.

Our actuary reviews and monitors the Plan each year to determine the amount of reserves required to pay all future benefits. The assets of the Fund are invested in order to provide the highest level of return while protecting the value of the assets.
 

The Fund draws on several independent consultants for advice such as actuaries, attorneys, auditors and investment consultants. Find out who they are.