Income is the Outcome: Building Retirement and Legacy Together

In the UCC Lifetime Retirement Income Plan edition of Evercall magazine—dedicated to retirement planning and legacy, we explore how thoughtful planning today creates security tomorrow, and how our collective choices can shape a future where people and the planet thrive.

When considering your retirement, ask yourself:

• What kind of future do I imagine for myself? My family?
• Do my retirement plan investments reflect my values?
• Am I using all the benefits available to me as a UCC ministry professional, like housing allowance, to maximize retirement contributions?
• Could my retirement savings leave a positive impact on God’s people and planet?

These aren’t just financial questions. They’re lifestyle questions. Your answers will guide how you invest, and whether your money works for you and for the world around you.

The Changing Landscape of Retirement

For generations, employer-sponsored pensions provided steady income in retirement. Today, that landscape has shifted dramatically. Fewer and fewer employers provide pension benefits. Market privatization and the move from defined benefit pensions to defined contribution plans like 403(b)s place more responsibility on individuals. This means planning early and consistently is essential to ensure lifetime income.

Our Story: Leading by Example

As leaders entrusted with managing the financial ministry of the Pension Boards-UCC (PBUCC), we carry the responsibility of safeguarding the retirement security of thousands. But we’re not just stewards—we’re participants. Alongside our colleagues at PBUCC, we invest in the UCC Lifetime Retirement Income Plan (LRIP) because we believe in its promise. It offers more than savings; it delivers lifetime income and investment options that reflect UCC values. Living this reality ourselves reinforces a simple truth: starting early and staying committed makes all the difference.

Because of Ministry, LRIP is Essential

At PBUCC, we like to say: “Plan well, live well, serve well.” When you build a strong foundation for today and tomorrow, you can serve with confidence and peace of mind. The UCC Lifetime Retirement Income Plan (LRIP) isn’t just a retirement account—it’s a lifelong strategy for security and impact. Here’s why:

• Tax-deferred contributions help your savings grow faster. The earlier you start, the more time your money has to compound, and the stronger your retirement outcome will be.
• Employer contributions—up to 14% of salary—accelerate your progress.
• Housing allowance can reduce living costs and free up funds for retirement.

A Ripple Effect Across Generations

When more people in ministry participate, every member of the plan benefits. Greater plan participation strengthens our ministry community, enhances sustainability, and ensures resources for future generations. Retirement planning isn’t just personal—it’s also communal.

Investing Your Values

Every dollar you invest is a vote for the future you want for yourself, your family, and your community. LRIP offers sustainable investment options that prioritize clean energy, fair labor, and responsible governance. These choices don’t just deliver return; they create impact. The health of the planet is directly tied to the wellbeing of our community. Our investments have the power to do good in our world—where income is the outcome through our retirement investments, and people and the planet can thrive.

Real Voices, Real Impact

"It's quite a milestone to be starting my pension 46 years after I was first commissioned to be an agricultural missionary in Togo, West Africa. I have loved being a part of the UCC my whole life and appreciate its core values more than ever in these troubled times.”

—Brian S. Aldrich, Missionary, United Church Board for World Ministries

“As it was, when I graduated seminary, we had very little, other than the support of the UCC Pension Plan to get us headed in the right direction in planning for retirement, even on the first day of active ministry.

I will ever be grateful for the covenantal relationship between God, the conference, the congregation, the Pension Boards, and myself in ensuring that a consistent amount, 14% of base salary plus housing, was set aside annually for our family to depend on in retirement…In regard to retirement, trust the Pension Boards and their care for you.”

—Rev. Don Wagner, retired and serving as a supply preacher for the Illinois South Conference

“I retired at the end of 2010. I was almost 62 years of age, and was having health issues. I started receiving Social Security benefits right away, but I waited to annuitize my pension until I was 65…Seek financial advice from the Pension Boards, and start saving for retirement right away, even if it’s in small amounts.”

—Rev. Terri Akkerman, retired and attends Brookings UCC, South Dakota, and Cathedral of Hope UCC, Texas. 

The Bottom Line

Your calling is priceless, but your financial security requires intentional planning. By participating in LRIP, you turn today’s income into tomorrow’s outcome, while investing in a way that reflects your values and strengthens our community.

When considering your retirement, feel confident:

• I envision a future of security and joy for myself, my family, and my colleagues in ministry.
• My retirement investments reflect my values and support what I believe in.
• I am able to maximize every benefit available to me as a UCC ministry professional to strengthen my retirement plan.
• My retirement savings create a lasting, positive impact on God’s people and the planet.

These affirmations will guide your investment decisions, ensuring your money works for you and for the world around you—a well-deserved reward to honor your years of faithful service in ministry.