Ask the expert | YMCA Retirement Fund

Welcome to Ask the Expert

Back to the Learning Center

403(b) Savings Plan 401(a) Retirement Plan Lifetime Income in Retirement

The 403(b) Savings Plan

How much money can I contribute to my 403(b)?

What is the Savings Plan?

What does it mean to be “tax-deferred”?

Are only full-time employees eligible for the 403(b)?

When can I begin contributing to the 403(b) Smart Account?

Do the terms Savings Plan, 403(b) Smart Account and 403(b) refer to the same plan?

At what age can I take money out of my 403(b) Savings without a tax penalty?

Who can I contact to start my 403(b)?

Can I take some money from my Savings Plan while still working at the Y?

How much can I borrow from my Savings Plan?

Can I pay off my loan early?

What is a hardship withdrawal?

Do I have to annuitize my 403(b) Savings Plan when I retire?

Can I send a check to the YMCA Retirement Fund to put money in my 403(b)?

Does my rollover this year prevent me from contributing to the 403(b)?

Want to enroll or change your contributions?

Download the 403(b) Smart Account form

General Information and the 401(a) Retirement Plan

What are the YMCA Retirement Fund Plans?

How are contributions invested?

Who is eligible for the 401(a) Retirement Plan?

What are the service and age eligibility requirements for the 401(a) Retirement Plan?

If I meet the service and age requirements, but I work part-time in the future, will I still be enrolled in the Retirement Plan?

Do I need to enroll myself in the 401(a) Retirement Plan?

What happens if I change YMCA employers before I am eligible for the 401(a)?

If I leave Y employment before meeting the service requirement for the Retirement Plan, and then return to the Y later, will I receive credit toward eligibility for my past service?

What does “Vesting” mean?

How much does my YMCA contribute to my account?

Who decides how to invest the money in all the Retirement Fund accounts?

Who sets the interest rate credited to my account(s)?

What is an Annuity? What is an annuity from the Fund (Lifetime Income)?

Lifetime Income in Retirement

How much money do I need to save for retirement?

What is an Annuity, or at the Fund, Lifetime Income?

When will my Annuity start?

What are the different annuity options to choose from?

What are the factors that affect the size of the monthly payment from the Y Retirement Fund?

How do the Interest Credit Rate and Annuity Conversion Rate impact my lifetime income?

What’s an Annuity Payout Rate?

What are all the ways in which my account balance can grow over the years?