By Mary Beth Barry
At CBA, we constantly strive to give our members resources and support so they can offer employee benefits that reflect Catholic values. One important way we do that is through our CBA Multiple Employer 401(k) Plan (MEP)—a retirement plan designed specifically for Catholic employers. Available to CBA members, the MEP was developed to provide a faith-aligned retirement option for their employees.
As a ministry, we personally know how burdensome the administrative and fiduciary responsibilities of managing a retirement plan can be, especially for smaller organizations. That’s why we’ve done the heavy lifting for you. The CBA MEP 401(k) plan is:
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Easy to Adopt: With a streamlined and supportive implementation process that makes getting started simple.
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Easy to Maintain: Ongoing administration is simplified, with reduced employer fiduciary liability and ongoing Catholic compliance monitoring.
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Cost Effective: Participating employers benefit from economies of scale, meaning lower costs than managing an individual 401(k) plan alone.
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Faithfully Catholic: Developed with Innovest Portfolio Solutions, a recognized industry leader in the field, the MEP offers investment options that are carefully selected to align with Catholic teaching and the USCCB investment guidelines.
Why Retirement Benefits Matter
Employees are among your organization’s most valuable assets. As Catholic employers, we’re called to care for our employees as Christ does and that includes helping them prepare financially for their future. The CBA Multiple Employer Plan was created with this responsibility in mind. In today’s labor market, a retirement plan is more than a benefit—it shows employees they are valued and supported, while also strengthening retention and recruitment efforts.
Additional Incentives for For-Profit Employers
For-profit members may be eligible for a federal tax credit for starting a new retirement plan—potentially up to three years. This incentive can help offset startup costs and make adopting the MEP even more accessible.
Who Is the CBA MEP 401(k) Designed For?
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The MEP is an ideal fit for small to mid-sized employers (generally those with less than 100 employees).
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For organizations of this size, the MEP offers a cost-effective alternative to standalone plans, with lower costs and reduced administrative and fiduciary responsibilities.
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The MEP is also an excellent fit for organizations that do not currently offer a retirement plan.
Who May Not Be a Good Fit for the MEP?
While the MEP is open to for-profit and non-profit Catholic employers and other ministries, there are some exceptions worth noting.
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For example, entities currently offering a 403(b) Church plan face limitations as Church plans enjoy special exemptions under ERISA that are not preserved when joining a 401(k).
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Larger organizations—such as some dioceses— may find they prefer additional customization or investment offerings than what our MEP offers.
Learn More
If you’re interested in learning more about our MEP 401(k) and if it may be right for your organization email marybeth@catholicbenefitsassociation.org