A modern 403(b)(9) platform with lower fees, automated payroll funding, and housing allowance done right. Because the people who care for your church deserve a retirement plan that cares about them.
For too long, 403(b)(9) plans have come with opaque fees, manual processes, and outdated technology. It's time for something better.
Church retirement plans often come with fund expense ratios 10x higher than modern alternatives — quietly eroding pastors' savings year after year.
Many providers still require physical checks to fund contributions. No API integrations, no automated payroll sync — just manual work every pay period.
The ministerial housing allowance is one of the most valuable retirement benefits pastors have — yet most platforms treat it as an afterthought instead of a core feature.
Shorebird brings modern technology, thoughtful design, and fiduciary care together in one place — so your church can offer a better benefit without the administrative burden.
We handle the plan documents, custody setup, and onboarding. You get clarity from day one.
Connect your payroll system once. Contributions flow automatically after every pay run.
Curated, low-cost index funds. No proprietary products, no layered fees, no surprises.
Distributions designated as housing allowance in retirement — the way a church plan should.
We built Shorebird because we saw — up close — how outdated the church retirement space had become. This is what we wish existed for the churches we serve.
Choose whether the church covers the cost or participants do. Either way, our fees are a fraction of what legacy providers charge — and you'll always know exactly what you're paying.
No more physical checks. No more manual reconciliation. Contributions flow from payroll to participant accounts automatically, every pay period.
A clean, mobile-friendly dashboard that your staff can actually understand and use — designed for how churches work today.
Shorebird is a registered investment advisor. We act as a fiduciary on behalf of your participants, selecting investments with their long-term interest in mind.
403(b)(9) church plans are exempt from ERISA — which means less compliance burden and lower cost. We built everything around that reality from day one.
Pastors receive housing allowance designations on retirement distributions without the paperwork shuffle. It's how a church plan should work.
Shorebird began because we saw an opportunity. We work with churches of every size, and every time we looked at their 403(b)(9) plan, we knew there was a better way — simpler processes, clearer fees, modern tools, and housing allowance handled the way it should be.
Pastors and church staff pour everything into the people they serve. They've earned a retirement plan that does the same for them. That's what we've built.
We've built Shorebird thoughtfully and deliberately. Leave your email and we'll reach out to get started.
We'll never share your email. No spam, ever.