Choosing a retirement plan is a big decision. Here's a transparent look at how Shorebird compares on fees, features, and flexibility — so you can decide what's right for your church.
Adjust the sliders to match your church and see estimated annual costs across providers — side by side.
| Provider | Annual cost | All-in % | 403(b)(9) | Housing allowance | Independent churches |
|---|
Estimates based on publicly available fee schedules and typical fund expense ratios. Shorebird costs include fund expenses (~0.04%) and custodial fees (~0.05%). Competitor costs are estimated using blended all-in fee rates from publicly available information; actual costs may vary by plan configuration. GuideStone is generally available to Southern Baptist Convention-affiliated churches. FCMM is affiliated with the Evangelical Free Church of America. Vanguard does not offer 403(b)(9) plans or housing allowance designations.
Beyond cost — a look at plan structure, technology, and investment options across providers.
| Feature | Shorebird | GuideStone | FCMM | Others* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | ||||
| Fund expense ratios | 0.03 – 0.10% Index funds (Vanguard, iShares, Schwab) |
0.38 – 0.75% Proprietary GuideStone Funds |
Varies Mix of proprietary & mutual funds |
Varies widely Provider-dependent |
| Where costs come from | Flexible Church pays, participants pay, or split |
Participants' assets Embedded in fund fees |
Participants' assets Embedded in fund fees |
Varies Often embedded in fund fees or billed to employer |
| Plan Structure | ||||
| Plan type | Your church's own plan Prototype adoption agreement |
Shared master plan Church adopts GuideStone's plan |
Shared master plan Denominational plan |
Shared master plan Denominational plan |
| Denomination required? | No | Preferred (SBC) | Yes (Free Methodist) | Typically yes |
| Customizable plan features | ✓ Match, vesting, eligibility, loans, Roth | Limited — plan terms set by GuideStone | Limited | Varies |
| Church-Specific Features | ||||
| Housing allowance designation | ✓ Built-in, automated | ✓ Available | ✓ Available | ✓ Available |
| Technology & Experience | ||||
| Online enrollment | ✓ Fully digital | Paper + digital hybrid | Paper-heavy | Varies |
| Payroll integration | ✓ QuickBooks, Gusto, ADP | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ |
| Automated contribution funding | ✓ Automated or manual | Manual or semi-automated | Manual | Varies |
| Onboarding time | 48 hours | 2 – 4 weeks | 2 – 6 weeks | Weeks to months |
| Investment Options | ||||
| Fund selection | Low-cost index funds Vanguard, iShares, Schwab |
Proprietary only GuideStone Funds |
Mix of proprietary & mutual funds | Varies by provider |
| Target-date funds | ✓ Vanguard Target Retirement | ✓ MyDestination Funds | ✓ Lifetime Fund | Varies |
| Faith-based screening available | ✓ Optional | ✓ Default (all funds screened) | Limited | Varies |
* "Others" includes providers like Envoy Financial, Servant Solutions, and other denominational retirement boards. Fee ranges are representative and may vary.
We built Shorebird around three things we think matter most.
Shorebird uses low-cost index funds from Vanguard, iShares, and Schwab, keeping your all-in cost between 0.35% and 0.50%. Over a career, the difference between that and a higher-fee plan compounds into tens of thousands of dollars more in your participants' accounts.
Many church plans use a shared master plan structure managed at the denominational level. With Shorebird, your church has its own 403(b)(9) plan — with a simple adoption agreement that lets you customize the match, vesting, eligibility, and loans. Same tax benefits, more control.
Church payroll is unique. Ministers have dual tax status, housing allowances need to be designated correctly at distribution, and many churches run payroll through new platforms. Shorebird integrates directly with your payroll system and handles the church-specific details that make a real difference.
Small differences in fees compound dramatically over a ministry career. Here's what a pastor contributing $500/month could accumulate over 30 years, assuming 7% annual returns before fees.
With Shorebird (0.40%)
$564,000
Net of fees
With Others (0.90%)
$512,000
Net of fees
Difference
$52,000
More in your pastor's pocket
Hypothetical illustration. Assumes $500/month contributions, 7% annual return before fees, 30-year time horizon. Actual results will vary. This is not a guarantee of future performance.
We'd love to help your church offer a retirement plan your team will appreciate.
Get startedFee comparisons are based on publicly available information and may not reflect all costs, share classes, or plan configurations. GuideStone fee ranges reflect Investor Class fund expense ratios plus administrative costs. FCMM fees are based on their published rate and fee disclosures. "Others" category represents a range of denominational and independent church retirement providers. Shorebird fees are target pricing and subject to change. All fee data is approximate and intended for general comparison purposes only. Churches should review each provider's current fee disclosure documents before making decisions. This page does not constitute investment advice.