Wespath Investment Management

What Wespath Investment Management does

Wespath Investment Management is a nonprofit retirement and investment organization that operates as a general agency of The United Methodist Church, headquartered in Glenview, Illinois, and founded in 1908. The organization administers retirement plans (including the new Compass plan replacing CRSP effective January 1, 2026, the Personal Investment Plan, and legacy defined benefit and DC arrangements for UMC clergy, lay employees, and Methodist-affiliated organizations), delivers comprehensive health and well-being benefits through the HealthFlex platform (medical, prescription, behavioral, dental, vision, and well-being services integrated with third-party administrators and networks such as MDLIVE, Personify Health, and MetLife), and provides institutional investment and OCIO solutions for nonprofit and faith-based institutions through subsidiaries UMC Benefit Board, Inc. and Wespath Institutional Investments LLC.

Underlying technology consists of the Benefits Access participant portal for account management, the LifeStage Investment Management automated allocation and rebalancing engine paired with LifeStage Retirement Income (including Social Security Bridge and Longevity Income Protection / QLAC features), and integration with EY Navigate for objective financial planning and education. Distribution is layered: a direct customer service operation with phone, email, and 24/7 secure messaging for individual participants; a Plan Sponsor Relations team of four client services managers supporting annual conferences and large plan sponsors; an Institutional Investment Services team led by a Senior Managing Director; and the broader UMC connectional structure (annual conferences, bishops, regional conferences in Africa, the Philippines, and Europe) as the primary channel into international clergy and the Connectional Pension Support program.

Wespath generates revenue through plan administration fees and investment management services delivered to affiliated benefit plans and institutional investors (a managed services revenue model); pricing is not publicly disclosed and is effectively negotiated through denominational structures. It serves three primary customer segments: UMC clergy and lay employees, UMC plan sponsors (annual conferences and Methodist-affiliated organizations), and nonprofit and faith-based institutional investors, all under a values-aligned investment framework grounded in Wesleyan theology and UMC Social Principles. The organization has 251-500 employees, serves over 100,000 participants and more than 170 mission-based institutional investors, and is overseen in coordination with the UMC General Conference and a General Secretary/CEO; there are no external shareholders, private equity, or venture capital investors.

Name

Wespath Investment Management

Legal name

Wespath

Website

https://wespath.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1908

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Wespath Investment Management is a Glenview, Illinois-based nonprofit general agency of The United Methodist Church that administers retirement, health, and well-being benefit plans and provides values-aligned institutional investment and OCIO services to UMC clergy, employees, plan sponsors, and faith-based institutions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Faith-Based Retirement and Benefits Administration

NAICS

Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940), Pension Funds (525110), Health and Welfare Funds (525120)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282), Life Insurance (6311)

akta.pro primary industry

Pension Master Trusts, Superannuation & Provident Funds (FSAAAGAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Employee Benefit & Retirement Plan Trust Services (FSAAANAC), Retirement Income Planning & Decumulation Advisory (FSAEABAD)

Keywords

• Retirement plan administration
• Institutional asset management
• Health benefits administration
• Clergy pension services
• Sustainable investment management

Headquarters

HQ city

Glenview

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Benefit Plan Administration Services: Wespath administers retirement and health benefit plans for The United Methodist Church clergy, lay employees, and institutional investors. As a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization and general agency of the UMC, revenue appears to come from plan administration fees and investment management services provided to affiliated organizations.
2. Institutional Investment Management: Through subsidiaries UMC Benefit Board, Inc. and Wespath Institutional Investments, LLC, the organization provides investment management services to institutional investors controlled by, associated with, or related to The United Methodist Church.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Wespath Investment Management is a nonprofit retirement and investment organization that administers 403(b) retirement plans, defined benefit pensions, health benefits (HealthFlex), and institutional investment/OCIO solutions for United Methodist Church clergy, lay employees, annual conferences, and affiliated nonprofit institutions. Through its subsidiaries UMC Benefit Board, Inc. and Wespath Institutional Investments LLC, it provides automated portfolio management (LifeStage), retirement income products, and values-aligned investment funds, while operating international pension support programs for UMC regional conferences abroad.

Product overview

Wespath Investment Management is a nonprofit retirement and investment organization serving The United Methodist Church, offering a comprehensive portfolio of retirement benefits, health coverage, and institutional investment solutions. The product suite centers on retirement plans including Compass (the new 403(b) for UMC clergy replacing CRSP in 2026), the Personal Investment Plan (PIP), and legacy plans (CRSP, MPP, Pre-82 Plan, UMPH, NewLife PIP, Horizon 401(k)). Health benefits are delivered through HealthFlex with medical, dental, vision, and well-being programs. Investment management features include LifeStage Investment Management (automated) and LifeStage Retirement Income with Social Security Bridge and Longevity Income Protection options. The ecosystem includes institutional OCIO solutions, EY Financial Planning Services (via EY Navigate), well-being programs across five dimensions, and international pension support through Connectional Pension Support (CPS). All investment offerings adhere to values-aligned principles reflecting United Methodist Social Principles.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• HealthFlex: Comprehensive health coverage program offering access to national provider networks with medical, prescription drug, mental and behavioral health, dental, vision, and well-being benefits.
• Compass Retirement Plan
• Personal Investment Plan (PIP)
• Connectional Pension Support (CPS)
• LifeStage Investment Management
• LifeStage Retirement Income
• Saving Grace

Products and services

• Compass Retirement Plan A 403(b) account-based defined contribution retirement plan for United Methodist Church clergy effective January 1, 2026. Includes contributions from both clergy and the UMC, professional investment management through LifeStage, and flexible retirement income options including LifeStage Retirement Income.
• Personal Investment Plan (PIP) A 403(b) retirement savings plan for employees of Methodist-affiliated organizations supporting before-tax, Roth, and after-tax contributions. Offers a professionally managed investment lineup with values-aligned principles and may include employer contributions.
• HealthFlex Comprehensive health benefits program offering access to national provider networks with medical, prescription drug, mental/behavioral health, dental, vision, and well-being benefits through third-party administrators. Includes six medical/prescription plans, three dental plans, three vision plans, and the HealthFlex Exchange premium credit program.
• LifeStage Investment Management An automated investment service that creates personalized investment strategies based on age, account balance, risk tolerance, and retirement timeline. Automatically adjusts the investment mix over time and periodically rebalances portfolios for participants.
• LifeStage Retirement Income Retirement income management service that converts retirement account balances into predictable monthly payments designed to last throughout retirement. Includes optional Social Security Bridge and Longevity Income Protection features.
• Connectional Pension Support (CPS) International pension program providing steady retirement income for United Methodist Church clergy and surviving spouses in regional conferences outside the U.S. Supports pension plans in Africa, the Philippines, and Europe, serving approximately 3,700 retirees and beneficiaries and more than 7,500 active clergy.
• Institutional Investment Services / OCIO Solutions Comprehensive investment solutions and Outsourced Chief Investment Officer (OCIO) services for nonprofit and faith-based institutions. Includes institutional sales, marketing, client servicing, asset allocation analysis, and values-aligned investment policy development.

Quantifiable outcome

• Serving over 100,000 participants across the U.S. and around the world
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• EY Financial Planning ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWespath partners with EY to provide confidential, objective financial guidance to participants. EY planners help navigate important financial decisions including budgeting, saving for retirement, tax considerations, and long-term financial goal setting. Available through phone (1-800-360-2539), video consultation, and online via EY Navigate platform and mobile app.
• EY NavigatecoreTechnology or IntegrationEY Navigate is the online platform and mobile app through which participants access EY Financial Planning Services, including tools, calculators, learning modules, live chat support, and webinar registration.
• Abingdon PresssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSaving Grace: A Guide to Financial Well-Being was created in partnership between Wespath and Abingdon Press. The program explores money management from a biblical perspective based on Wesleyan theology.
• General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerWespath has collaborated with GBHEM to engage leaders and changemakers across the UMC in supporting clergy well-being, including identifying systemic issues affecting well-being. Collaboration builds on foundational work with GBHEM that began in 2011 with the Church Systems Task Force report.
• Wesleyan Impact PartnerssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn summer 2025, Wespath and Wesleyan Impact Partners co-hosted a gathering on church property repurposing in suburban Chicago with individuals from across the UMC.
• Third-Party Administrators (HealthFlex)coreTechnology or IntegrationHealthFlex partners with trusted third-party administrators to deliver medical, prescription drug, mental and behavioral health, dental, vision, and well-being benefits. These partnerships provide broad access to care while maintaining consistent service.
• National Provider NetworkscoreTechnology or IntegrationHealthFlex offers access to national provider networks, making it easier for participants to find care wherever they relocate or travel.
• MetLifesupportingOthersFor some participants in the United Methodist Publishing House Pension Plan, benefits are secured through a guaranteed annuity contract with MetLife, with monthly retirement payments made directly by MetLife.
• Ernst & Young (EY)coreTechnology or IntegrationEY Navigate website maintained by Ernst & Young for Wespath participants to access financial planning services.
• Garrett-Evangelical Theological SeminarysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost venue for September 2025 Paragraph 717 gathering dedicated to discussion around sustainable and socially responsible investing guidelines. Professor Kate Ott led participants through ethical discussions.
• MDLIVE Behavioral HealthsupportingTechnology or IntegrationMDLIVE provides virtual access to licensed therapists and board-certified psychiatrists through secure video or phone sessions for HealthFlex participants, covered spouses, and dependent children ages 10 and up.
• Personify HealthsupportingTechnology or IntegrationPersonify Health serves as the central hub for HealthFlex well-being programs, providing access to self-guided resources, healthy habit tracking, educational health content, and one-on-one telephone support from qualified health coaches.
• United Methodist Interagency Just and Equitable Net-Zero CoalitionsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerOn Earth Day 2021, Wespath and 10 fellow UMC agencies publicly pledged to achieve net-zero emissions across ministries, facilities, operations and investments by 2050. The coalition emphasizes just and equitable transition to address structural barriers to racial and gender equity alongside climate issues.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Church Pension Group: General agency of the Episcopal Church administering pension and health benefits for clergy and lay employees of the denomination. Closest structural analogue to Wespath within another mainline Protestant denomination, with parallel retirement, health, and institutional investment services.
• GuideStone Financial Resources: Pension and health benefits organization serving the Southern Baptist Convention with managed retirement plans (403(b), 401(a)), institutional investment management, and values-aligned funds. Operates the same denominational pension-agency model as Wespath.
• Everence (Mennonite Financial Solutions): Fraternal benefit society and denominational financial services arm of Mennonite/Anabaptist denominations providing retirement plans, investments, and stewardship services. Comparable faith-based retirement and investment platform.
• Concordia Plan Services: Pension, health, and retirement services arm of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, administering retirement plans for rostered church workers and lay employees. Direct denominational peer operating the same general agency structure.
• Board of Pensions of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.): Provides retirement, health, and disability benefits for PCUSA ministers, employees, and their families. Direct denominational peer in benefits administration and institutional investment management.
• Commonfund: Investment management firm focused on OCIO and endowment-style portfolios for nonprofits, foundations, and educational institutions. Closest commercial-side analogue to Wespath's institutional investment/OCIO offering for mission-based investors.
• Cambridge Associates: Investment consulting and OCIO firm serving foundations, endowments, and nonprofit institutions with portfolio strategy and implementation. Directly comparable to Wespath Institutional Investments in OCIO service model.

Broad incumbents

• TIAA (Nuveen): Large-scale retirement and institutional investment provider with deep roots in higher education and nonprofit OCIO. Competes with Wespath for nonprofit institutional mandates and offers analogous participant-side retirement products.
• Russell Investments: Global investment solutions firm offering OCIO, outsourced asset management, and consulting to institutional clients including endowments, foundations, and pension plans. Broad incumbent overlapping with Wespath's institutional investment business.

Emerging players

• Verus Investments: Independent investment consulting firm providing OCIO and discretionary portfolio management to nonprofit and pension clients. Comparable peer in the institutional OCIO and multi-asset segment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wespath-benefits-and-investments

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Wespath Investment Management