Inicio de sesión a Principal Financial Group—Cuenta personal en línea

Inicie Sesión al sistema de pago en línea—Solo para uso de tesoreros/personal de finanzas

FIRST-TIME USERS INFO

WPF utilizes the services of Northwest Plan Services (NWPS) for making contributions to a participant’s account on a regular basis – our Online Payment System or OPS.

To get your NEW  OPS account started, email or call our office with the following information:
-Ministry Name
-Federal Tax ID
-Address/City/State/Zip
-Phone Number
-Email Address

We will register your account and NWPS will send you an Invitation Email to the email address you provide when it is ready. When you get the email, click on the link in the email. This will take you through the registration screens to set up your password, bank account, etc. Once you are through the registration screens, you will be in the account. There you can enter your employees and set up a payment.

The next time you need to login, DO NOT click on the link in the email. That link is ONLY for registrations.

For ongoing logins, return to the WPF site, click on the “Online Payment System Login-Treasurers/Finance Personnel Only” box. This will take you to the regular NWPS login page. Bookmark this site for future logins.

Once the initial setup is complete, and a transaction is processed, NWPS will email a confirmation of the transaction being completed.

If you later add a new employee to your account, please remember that an enrollment form MUST be completed and mailed or faxed to WPF before the contribution can be processed to the new employee’s account. If he/she is already a member, please DO NOT send us another enrollment form.

To enroll, please download Enrollment Forms (includes Beneficiary Form) under Forms on this site. Forms are also available in Spanish.

Usuarios por primera vez

WPF utiliza los servicios de Northwest Plan Services (NWPS) para realizar contribuciones de forma regular a la cuenta de un participante: nuestro Sistema de Pago en Línea u OPS, por sus siglas en inglés.

Para iniciar tu NUEVA cuenta OPS, envía un correo electrónico o llama a nuestras oficinas con la siguiente información:

  • Nombre del Ministerio
  • ID de impuestos federales
  • Dirección/Ciudad/Estado/Código Postal
  • Número de teléfono
  • Dirección de correo electrónico

Nosotros nos encargaremos de registrar tu cuenta y NWPS te enviará un correo electrónico al correo electrónico provisto con una invitación cuando la cuenta ya esté lista. Cuando recibas el correo electrónico, haz clic en el enlace que encontrarás en el correo electrónico. Esto te llevará a través de los pasos y ventanas de registro para configurar tu contraseña, tu cuenta bancaria, etc. Una vez que hayas pasado por las pantallas de registro, estarás en la cuenta. Allí puedes añadir a tus empleados y configurar un pago.

La próxima vez que necesites iniciar sesión, NO hagas clic en el enlace del correo electrónico. Ese enlace es SÓLO para inscripciones, para registros por primera vez.

Para inicios de sesión continuos, regresa al sitio de WPF y haz clic en el cuadro “Inicio de sesión en el sistema de pago en línea: solo tesoreros/personal de finanzas(“Online Payment System Login- Treasurers/Finance Personnel Only”,en inglés). Esto te llevará a la página de inicio de sesión habitual de NWPS. Marca este sitio como favorito para futuros inicios de sesión.

Una vez que se complete la configuración inicial y se procese una transacción, NWPS enviará una confirmación por correo electrónico indicando que se completó la transacción.

Si luego agregas a un nuevo empleado a tu cuenta, recuerda que DEBES completar un formulario de inscripción y enviarlo por correo o por fax a WPF antes de que se pueda procesar la contribución a la cuenta del nuevo empleado. Si ya el/la empleado/a es miembro, NO nos envíes otro formulario de inscripción.

Para inscribirte, por favor descarga los Formularios de inscripción (incluye el Formulario del beneficiario) que se encuentran en la casilla de Formularios en este sitio. Los formularios también están disponibles en español y en inglés.

EMAIL
wpf@wesleyan.org

PHONE
Toll-Free:  800.595.4131
Office:  317.774.3954
Fax:  317.774.3955

ADDRESS
13300 Olio Rd Ste 340
Fishers IN  46037

OFFICE HOURS
Monday – Thursday
8:30am – 4:30pm

STATEMENTS/FORMS
-Year-End Statement Mailed in Feb
-All Statements in Online Accounts
-1099-R Mailed by Jan 31
-Canadian T-4 Mailed by Feb 28
-RMD Letter/Forms Mailed Oct

YEAR-END PROCESSING
-2024 RMD PAPERWORK due Nov 30
-2024 WITHDRAWALS into office by Dec 16
-2024 CONTRIBUTIONS by Dec 27 to count for current year
-PFG Year-End Blackout Jan 1-15

 

KEEPING YOU INFORMED

FOR MINISTRY FINANCE PERSONNEL

WE ARE NOW ON OUR NEW ONLINE PAYMENT SYSTEM PLATFORM with Northwest Plan Services (NWPS). Thank you for your cooperation in this migration process! Please note the following housekeeping items going forward:

-If you are not able to log into the new system, you must call our office, at 317.774.3954 or toll-free at 800.595.4131. All users are required to register and select a new password. Your username is your email address.

-The new system allows two users on your account if desired.

-Please make sure you update your email address in the new system. If you are using a previous person’s email, you are not able to receive notifications or updates from our office.

 

31 January 2024 Update – As you may know, FSRA has previously requested additional information before they approve the wind-up.  We continue to be hopeful to receive approval soon and that the payments can be made quickly following the approval.  We all want to see the wind-up completed and the benefits settled for each member.  Please know we are working toward this every day.

15 August 2023 Update – from our actuaries:  Unfortunately, FSRA has requested some additional information before they approve the wind-up. We met with FSRA in June to discuss their requests and are working through fulfilling their requirements. We are hopeful we will receive approval in the next couple of months and the payments could be made this fall. We all want to see the wind-up approved and the members’ benefits settled. Please know we are working toward this every day!

12 July 2023 Update – We have heard from the Canadian Pension Regulators that the windup has been approved verbally but we are still awaiting their written documents for processing the rest of the windup. When we were told verbally, our actuaries expected that distributions would begin in July and annuities processed in September, but we are unable to start any processing until we’ve actually received the documented go-ahead from the regulators. I will plan to put updates here whenever I find out something.

If you have turned the age of 65 during this windup period and you want to commence your pension now, we have been given permission to do that and cover any retroactive payments back to age 65. You can also wait until we have the approval of the windup from the regulators and elect to receive a lump sum representing the total value of your pension in a single payment. These items were covered in the paperwork you turned in to the actuaries and marked the options you desired. However, as a reminder, I’m letting you know you can commence your pension if you have turned 65 during this waiting period.

Wesleyan Pension Fund’s
Retirement Planning Services Team

The Retirement Planning Services Team has extensive experience in conducting financial planning and retirement consulting services. This assistance is offered on a FEE-WAIVED basis for all Wesleyan Pension Fund participants as an additional perk to your benefits.

If you would like to schedule a consultation with an Advisor, please see the contact information flyer. You can reach out to the Retirement Planning Services Team via phone or email and they will be glad to set up a session with you.  (See flyer below.)

We encourage you to take advantage of this tremendous value being provided for you and your family!

Wesleyan Pension Fund and the Retirement Planning Services Team are excited to bring this additional assistance in charting your financial course for the future!

Wesleyan Pension Fund Retirement Services Team

ELIGIBILITY FOR WITHDRAWING FUNDS:  Must be age 62 or over (if under age 62, please see the “Early Access to Funds” tab).

I’M ELIGIBLE—HOW DO I ACCESS MY FUNDS?

There are three options for accessing your funds:

  1. Partial Withdrawal – removes any portion of funds. (A rollover option is also available.)*
  2. Extended Payment – an automatic, scheduled payment of your choice distributed monthly, quarterly, semi-annually or annually.*
  3. Lump-Sum Distribution – removes all the funds and closes the account.  (A rollover option is also available.)*

If you are a minister, all your funds are 100% housing allowance, which means the taxes are not withheld when you withdraw your funds. If you use your funds for items not pertaining to home/property, you can fill that amount in the “taxable income” box when you receive your 1099-R for your tax preparation. There is an example of the 1099-R under “Forms” on this website.

To access your funds, you need:

  • A form for one of the above withdrawals (Partial Withdrawal—Extended Payment—Lump Sum) – forms are downloadable from this website or WPF office can mail or email you forms.
  • The W-4P form (for ministers only) (1st page only) with the box checked for no withholding of Federal taxes.  (Your State may also have a W-4P form.)
  • The Direct Deposit form with voided check (if available) – for funds to be deposited in a checking or savings account.
  • A spouse signature witnessed by someone other than you (18+ years of age).  This can be done before completing the form for confidentiality.
  • A signature of the witness (does not have to be a notary).
  • A copy of the spouse’s driver’s license or other official document showing the signature (unless spouse is also a WPF participant, as we would have her/his signature on file).

WPF forms are available on this website or they can be sent to you.

*Principal Financial Group (PFG) charges a transaction fee of $50 for each partial and for the lump sum. The Extended Payment’s fee is pro-rated so it is one $50 fee charged throughout the year.

When placing a withdrawal, if you’d like to receive the entire amount you wrote on the form, place “NET” after the amount so the taxes (if you’re having taxes withheld) are taken out of the remaining funds in the account and not out of the amount you wish to receive (see example).

Example:
Requested:  $5000 NET = $5000 received
Requested:  $5000 = $3800 received  ($1000 Fed Tax, $200 NC State Tax)

Email or call WPF if you have questions or need forms sent to you.  We are happy to assist!

WITHDRAWING FUNDS BEFORE AGE 62:

  1. Must no longer be employed by the hiring employer who contributed to your pension account.
  2. Must not be potential for employment in another organization willing to make employer contributions to your pension account.
  3. Non-ministerial members may take employer-contributed funds after a five-year waiting period from separation of employment.
  4. Ministers may take employer-contributed funds after registering a job/credential termination date with their District Office and the District Administration recording that date in TWCHub*—this triggers a five-year waiting period before funds can be accessed.
  5. Employee Payroll Salary Reduction (Elect Deferral)—same as above but with a one-year waiting period after employment separation.

*DISTRICT REPORTING:  Under Credential Record—Status Reason, example:  “Withdrawn 8/23/2022.”  (Date Required)

NON-WESLEYAN CLERGY

Early withdrawal of funds requires a job/credential termination date verified by the body that granted the ordination/licensing and after WPF receives written confirmation of that date from the credentialing body. The five-year wait begins from that termination date.

 

The Defined Contribution Plan—IRS 403(b)(9) is for the purpose of assisting employees to have enough funds set aside for their retirement years.  It is not provided for loans or hardships of any kind. 

You can now wait until age 72
to take a Required Minimum DIStribution

The Secure Act increased the required minimum distribution (RMD) age from 70-1/2 to 72, marking the first change to the RMD age since first becoming law in 1986. The age increase will only apply to anyone born on or after July 1, 1949.


Major Court Victory for the Ministers’ Housing Allowance 

Thousands of pastors and churches across America scored a major victory in the latest court challenge to the ministers’ housing allowance.

In its highly anticipated opinion on March 15, 2019 the U.S. Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously reversed a lower federal district court, which had ruled in late 2017 against the longstanding housing allowance for ministers. Instead, the appeals court likened the ministers’ housing allowance to other similar benefits in the tax code for work-related housing, finding the provision permissible under the First Amendment and well-established legal precedent.

ECFA has actively defended the housing allowance, including supporting an amicus brief that was cited by the appeals court judges in their favorable decision in this case. President Dan Busby commented on the court victory, “This decision is a win not just for the ministers’ housing allowance but for the ‘more than 2,600 federal and state tax laws that provide religious exemptions’ cited by the Seventh Circuit, some of which date back to the early 1800s.”

The Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF), the group which brought this challenge to the housing allowance, did not indicate their intention to appeal the decision in an early press release reacting to the case.

FAQ Tips Sheet

The Tips Sheet addresses:

  • When can I access my funds?
  • What if I leave my job?
  • Why am I not seeing the total contribution in my PFG online account?
  • Can I give personally to my pension?
  • Isn’t 4-47487 my account number?
  • What about forms and payments?
  • Online Payment System (OPS)
  • TWCHub Usage

-FORMS:  Available for download on our website under “FORMS” or we can email or mail them. We do not recommend emailing completed forms to WPF as email is not secure. Our contact information is available on the forms.

TWCHub USAGE:  We use The Wesleyan Church Hub to check ministerial credential status, to find local church leaders and email addresses. Please help us by keeping the Hub continually updated.

ENROLLING AN EMPLOYEE IN WESLEYAN PENSION FUND:

-ALL employees are eligible to participate in WPF – both clergy and laity staff.

-Give Enrollment Forms to employee (on website under “Forms”). If there is an agreement between the employer and employee to also have a voluntary, salary-reduction (employee contribution), you will need to sign the form in Section C. Fax or mail completed forms to WPF. If a new employee is already a member of WPF, please do not have him/her complete another enrollment form, just give us any updated information.  Forms will be able to be uploaded to the new Online Payment System (OPS) soon.

-The WPF Summary Plan Description is a document you should suggest to your new employees for an understanding of the Plan policies. It is available on our website.

-Begin Contributions. Enrollments are not processed until a contribution from the ministry is received by WPF. 

-WPF recommends contributing an amount equal to 12% of the employee’s gross salary. Salary is equal to cash salary plus housing. If the employee is provided a parsonage, the value used should be the taxable year-end amount. A portion of the employer contribution totaling 1% of the gross salary is used to purchase disability and life insurance for the employee and for such other purposes as the Board of Pensions may determine. The rest is invested in the Plan account.

OTHER TIPS:

Exit Interviews. Remind the outgoing employee about their pension funds. They will need to keep WPF informed of contact information changes. Lay personnel can access their employee (EE) funds one year after job termination date and in five years for employer (ER) funds. They will no longer have the insurance benefits in the Plan. Clergy members may take employer-contributed (ER) funds after registering a job/credential termination date with their district office and the district administration records that date in TWCHub. This triggers a five-year waiting period before funds can be accessed. ALL participants may access their funds at the age of 62. *Also see “Employee Job Termination.”

Employee Job Termination. When an employee leaves their job and processes a Lump Sum Distribution for the balance of their funds, which closes their account, they are committing to not returning to a job that would require a future enrollment in WPF. If they plan to seek a position in another ministry where WPF is utilized, they must leave their funds intact.

Employer (ER) and Employee (EE) Funds. When adding employees to your Online Payment System account, be sure to mark the correct option for posting. ER funds are contributions paid by the ministry. (Insurance premiums are paid from these funds.) EE funds are contributions made from voluntary, salary-reduced funds of the employee. If the funds are not posted correctly, it can affect the employee’s insurance coverage.

Year-End Contributions. All Employer (ER) and Employee (EE) contributions are due to WPF by the middle of December to have them credited to their accounts in the current year. We post the due dates on our website under “Year-End Processing.”

Year-End at Principal Financial Group (PFG). The first two-three weeks in January are blackout dates for Principal while they process year-end. Contributions to accounts and withdrawals from accounts are put on hold during that time. The Annual Statements are usually sent by the end of February. If you want your contributions to show up in the current year’s statements, those must be sent in by the middle of December. If your employees need to withdraw funds and want them before the end of January, they need to have their forms in by the second week of December.  (See “Year-End Processing on our website for exact dates.)

-For information on Voluntary, Salary-Reduction (EE contributions), contribution limits and housing allowance for ministers see the “Plan Benefits and Information” section on this website.

 

The National Securities Markets Improvement Act (the “Act”) signed into law on October 11, 1996, exempts church plans from federal and state securities laws, except for anti-fraud provisions.  In order to qualify for the exemption, church plans must satisfy eligibility requirements under section 414(e) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) and the assets of church plans must be used exclusively for the benefit of plan participants and beneficiaries.  Church plans continue to be subject to the Internal Revenue Code and its regulations regarding eligibility, governance, and operations of such plans.

The following notice is provided in accordance with the Act:

The Wesleyan Pension Fund Inc or any company or account maintained to manage or hold assets of the Plan and interests in such Plan, companies, or accounts (including any funds maintained by Wesleyan Pension Fund Inc) are not subject to registration, regulation or reporting under the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Securities Act of 1933, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Title 15 of the United States Code, or State securities laws.  Therefore, plan participants and beneficiaries will not be afforded the protections of those provisions.

 

FORMS

Pension team

 

Dr Craig Dunn

Chief Executive Officer

Rev Jim Weinmann

Director of Operations

Mrs Cindy Linder

Executive Assistant

INVESTMENTS

Wesleyan Pension Fund, in conjunction with Morgan Stanley, is committed to developing retirement plan options designed for each participant’s needs. These Target Date Retirement Portfolio options are constructed to assist you with complex retirement decisions by automatically adjusting your investment allocation according to your targeted retirement age.

To begin, simply select the Target Date Retirement Portfolio that most closely matches your projected retirement date. Over time your portfolio allocations will automatically shift from being more equity-oriented to more fixed-income oriented thereby becoming more conservative to protect your capital as your retirement date approaches.

PLAN BENEFITS & INFORMATION

The Plan is a church retirement income account program described in section 403(b)(9) of the Internal Revenue Code. The Internal Revenue Code permits denominations and churches to set up retirement plans designed to provide current tax savings on plan contributions and plan earnings to be paid in the form of pension benefits during retirement. The Plan provides tax savings, while at the same time providing you with investment vehicles through which your retirement funds can grow.

For enrollment forms, please download Enrollment Form (includes Beneficiary Form) under FORMS on this site.

For more details, please see the WPF Summary Plan Description at the top of the web-page under “Keeping You Informed” or in the “Resource” section at the bottom of the web-page.

Employer Contributions – Your ministry employer is strongly encouraged to contribute an amount equal to 12% of your gross salary. Salary is equal to cash salary plus housing. If your employer provides a parsonage, the value used should be the taxable year-end amount. A portion of the employer contribution totaling 1% of your gross salary is used by WPF to purchase disability and death protection for you and for such other purposes as the WPF board may from time to time determine. The rest is invested in your account in the Plan.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) limits how much you and your employer can contribute to your Plan annually.

Salary Reduction Contributions (Elective Deferral Limit) – These are contributions made by you by means of payroll salary reduction. This type of contribution allows you to contribute a certain portion of your compensation to the Plan on a pre-tax basis. This type of contribution reduces your current taxable income by the amount of your contribution, saving you current tax dollars. Non-ordained/licensed employees must pay Social Security taxes on their salary reduction contributions.

2024 Total Contribution Limit

For 2024, the limit is the lesser of:

  • 100% of your compensation
  • $69,000 (Total Employer-ER & Employee-EE Contributions) ($46,000 ER)

2024 Elective Deferral Contribution Limits

  1. EE Salary Reduction of $23,000
  2. Over 50 Catch-up of $7,500
  • It is possible to contribute up to $30,500 in 2024 if you are eligible for both items #1 and #2.
  • If your elective deferrals exceed the limit, the excess amount must be returned to you and included in your gross income.

If you are an active or retired minister, a portion or all of your annual pension may be designated as available for housing allowance, pursuant to Internal Revenue Service Ruling 75-22. However, the amount actually excludable as housing allowance cannot exceed the lowest of these factors:

  • The fair rental value of the furnished home plus the cost of utilities, furnishings and maintenance; or
  • The actual expenses of operating a home; or
  • The amount designated by WPF as a housing allowance.

-Any excess over the lowest of these factors is reportable as additional income for income tax purposes.

-The Board of Pensions has authorized the designation up to 100% of retirement benefits as a housing allowance paid as part of a retired minister’s compensation for past years of service.

-As a retired minister, pension distributions are NOT subject to SECA tax.

-To report such a designation, WPF recommends you use a self-prepared schedule and keep it for your records.  (See 1099-R form explanation in the “Forms” section above.)

-To review the latest housing allowance information, please see the Minister’s Tax & Financial Guide, available for download in our Resources section below.

The WPF 403(b) Defined Contribution Plan allows for any member to begin drawing from their retirement account at the age of 62. If you are eligible, you may either withdraw the funds monthly or receive funds through a partial distribution. All ordained/licensed members in our plan may be eligible to use the funds for housing allowance. Please see the Housing Allowance Chapter in the resource below or call our office for further details.

The Extended Payment Form is to be completed for a monthly (or quarterly, semi-annually or annual) benefit. You have the option to have the benefit funds directly deposited into a checking or savings account.

The W-4P Form is a Federal tax form where you can indicate if you want to withhold tax or not.

These forms may be mailed or faxed to our office for processing.  Once received and processed to Principal Financial Group, please allow 7-10 business days to receive your funds.

Please call our office if you have further questions.

The Extended Payment and W-4P Forms are available for download.  See FORMS on this site.

GROUP INSURANCE BENEFITS

Wesleyan Pension Fund members who are participating in the plan with employer contributions are provided life insurance and long-term disability insurance coverage upon the first contribution. As long as employer contributions are made on your behalf, this benefit will be provided through the UNUM Life Insurance Company.

WPF assumes contributions to the Plan it receives on your behalf are based on 12% of your salary and uses this salary figure for both death and disability benefit purposes. For example, if your employer contributes $2100 to the Plan on your behalf, WPF will calculate your total salary to be $17,500 ($17,500 x 12% = $2100) and your death and disability benefits will be based on this amount of $17,500, regardless of what your actual salary is. Therefore, in order for you to receive the maximum death or disability benefits available, it’s important that your employer’s contributions to the Plan be based on your actual cash salary and, in the case of clergy, any additional housing and utilities.

The formula for determining the life insurance benefit for individuals age 30 and younger is 4.0 times your salary, determined as described in the preceding paragraph. The salary multiple drops 0.1 for each year of age past 30, leveling out at 1.0 times compensation at age 60 to 70. Coverage is .5 times at age 70 and over for active participants. See insurance links below. This benefit is only available before retirement. Once you retire or terminate employment, you will no longer be covered under the WPF group insurance plan. The maximum amount of life insurance benefit is $550,000.

The amount of disability benefits equal 60% of your salary, determined as described under the Group Life Insurance tab. The maximum amount of disability benefits to which you are entitled is $10,000 per month. Your disability coverage is coordinated with any Social Security and/or Worker’s Compensation benefits you receive.

In order to receive disability benefits, you must be an active participant in the Plan. You are considered an active participant if contributions have been made to the Plan on your behalf by your employer. You will also be required to provide proof of your disability. Once approved by UNUM Insurance Company, your benefits will commence following a six-month waiting period and continue for as long as you are disabled up to age 69.

WPF Group Long-Term Disability booklets provided by UNUM are available for plan members to download for further details of this coverage. 

There is no specific age when LTD is no longer available, however, there are limitations to how long you can remain on Long-Term Disability. For instance, at age 65 it is a maximum duration of 36 months. Click on the booklet below for more details.  The Maximum Period of Payment Chart begins at the bottom of page one.

 

 

 

Serving HIM for your Benefit!