• New Blog and Video: Q1 2023 Investment Review and Outlook
• Help With Clergy Status Updates
• Wespath Holiday Closing—Good Friday

New Blog and Video: Q1 2023 Investment Review and Outlook

There’s no doubt that the news surrounding failing banks was the biggest storyline of the first quarter. But as we look to the future, market movements will likely continue to be driven by inflation and central banks, just as we've been discussing for the past 18 months or so. Read our latest blog, "Key Takeaways from First Quarter's Markets," by Joe Halwax, Managing Director, Institutional Investment Services, to learn more. If you prefer to learn via YouTube, Frank Holsteen, Managing Director, Investment Management, discusses those same topics in our quarterly review Investment Update video.

Help With Clergy Status Updates

There was an issue with the job aid link in our last OBX, so we are including this article again with the link fixed.

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.

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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