• Comprehensive Benefit Funding Plans Webinar—Recording Available
• Participant Communications
• Help With Clergy Status Updates
• New Blog—Why Does Wespath Invest in International Companies?
• Wespath Holiday Closing—Good Friday

Comprehensive Benefit Funding Plans Webinar—Recording Available

A recording of the virtual training Wespath held for the Comprehensive Benefit Funding Plan application is now available for viewing.

If you have comments or concerns regarding the CBFP application, please contact your Client Relationship Manager or Tony Prestipino at tprestipino@wespath.org or 1-800-269-2244 ext. 4560.

Participant Communications

On March 29 and 30 we sent an email inviting all active UMC clergy to register for "Live from Wespath" on Wednesday, May 17 at 1:00 p.m., Central time. "Live from Wespath" is a new virtual clergy event providing insights about the impact of world/church events on benefits and well-being. Learn more here.

Help With Clergy Status Updates

With special sessions and regularly scheduled Annual Conference Sessions coming soon, you may be tasked with loading clergy status changes into the Benefits Access for Plan Sponsors portal (BAP). We've prepared a job aid with helpful information, including how to reflect differences among local pastors, ordained elders and deacons. Please review this job aid and let your Client Service Manager (CSM) know if you have any questions or need clarification.

In addition, be sure to work directly with your CSM if:

• Clergy is already retired or will be soon. Please do not input a subsequent withdraw or termination. Your CSM can input these changes on your behalf. We will need supporting documentation (e.g., a letter from the clergy or clergy status change form, etc.).
• If a change is needed for a future dated retirement or other event.
• If a correction is needed between withdraw/termination/retirement.

Also, please do not place the same effective date on different statuses. As a reminder, this chart outlines the impact on benefits for certain circumstances.

New Blog—Why Does Wespath Invest in International Companies?

Wespath holds meaningful allocations to international stocks and bonds across our investment platform. Despite these assets lagging their U.S. counterparts in recent years, we find several reasons to maintain our conviction in the value of global diversification. Chief Investment Officer Dave Zellner details our rationale in our latest blog.

Wespath Holiday Closing—Good Friday

Wespath will be closed on Friday, April 7, in observance of Good Friday. Customer Service assistance will be unavailable that day.

Benefits Access for participants can be used to access acount information and complete transactions 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The automated phone system, accessible by calling 1-800-851-2201, will also be available for participants.

The Benefit Access Portal for Plan Sponsors and Wespath Institutional Investor Portal will be available to plan sponsors, conferences and institutions.

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