Savings Plan

The YMCA Retirement Fund’s 403(b) Savings Plan is an easy and accessible way for YMCA employees — like you! — to start saving for retirement. Beginning in 2024, you will have the option to save in a new Roth Account within the Savings Plan, in addition to the existing Tax-Deferred Account (formerly called the Smart Account). Adding the Roth Account option gives you the flexibility to save in a way that works best for your unique retirement goals. Learn more.

Pay Yourself First With the Fund’s Savings Plan!

The Fund tax-deferred Savings Plan is available to all employees of a participating Y, regardless of age or hours worked, and is a smart way to start saving towards your retirement goals! Even if you are not yet eligible to be enrolled in the Fund’s Retirement Plan, you may still begin building your retirement savings and a path to a lifetime of retirement income.

the savings plan is a Tax-Deferred 403(b) smart Account

The most powerful and effective strategy for saving for retirement is to pay yourself first by opening and making contributions to a 403(b) Smart Account, or the Savings Plan.

Use our contribution limits calculator to determine how much you can save tax-deferred each year in your Savings Plan.

Then, complete this form and submit it to your Y’s human resource or payroll department to open a 403(b) Smart Account or to change your contributions to an existing account.

Take Advantage of Tax-Deferred Opportunities

Saving for retirement in the 403(b) Smart Account provides the major benefit of reducing your taxable income. You’ll have to pay Social Security and Medicare taxes on the amounts you contribute, but you do not have to pay federal income tax on your contributions, or on the account’s earnings, until you choose to convert your balance to a lifetime of retirement income or withdraw them from the Savings Plan.  In most cases, you can defer state and local taxes as well (state tax laws vary). 

It is important to understand you are postponing taxes, not eliminating them. Although there is no guarantee of what the tax rates will be in the future, many people find that they are required to pay income tax at a  lower rate after they retire.

An example below breaks down the tax-deferred benefit of the 403(b) account.  If you save $75 every pay period, your pay is only reduced by $66, compared to saving $0 every period.

Rollovers

Whether you are a new employee or have been working at a Y for a while, you may roll over money from qualified plans into a Rollover Account. Learn more about rollovers.

Loans

While you are working for a participating Y, you can borrow from the Savings Plan. Learn more about loans.