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Incorporated as Lutheran Church Extension Fund (LCEF) in 1978, the mission is to facilitate sharing of the Gospel through investments, loans and ministry-support services, ensuring funds and resources are available now and in the future
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National Office
Lutheran Church Extension Fund10733 Sunset Office Drive, Suite 300St. Louis, MO 63127-1020Phone: 1-800-843-5233Fax: (314) 996-1131Contact Form
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Loan Rates
| New Mission Starts | 4.375% |
| Congregational | 4.750% |
| Specialized Ministries | 2.750% |
| RCW Mortgage APR | 3.844% |
Investment Rates
| StewardAccount® | 0.375% - 1.250% |
| Family Emergency | 1.375% |
| 5-Year Term Note | 1.875% |
LCEF offers IRA options as you plan for your future. Whether you're preparing for retirement or a family member's education, an IRA may be the perfect investment vehicle for you.
Retirement - IRA
By investing your retirement funds with LCEF, you know exactly where your money is and how it's being used. Your investments work for churches, schools and other LCMS ministries before it goes to work for you in retirement or for education expenses.
The IRA choices LCEF offers include:
- Traditional IRA: Contributions are made pre-tax. Unlike some retirement plans that require you to work a certain number of years before the funds are yours, an LCEF IRA is 100% yours from the beginning and you may make withdrawals at any time (withdrawals before age 59½ are currently subject to a 10% IRS penalty however). Read the Traditional IRA brochure.
- Roth IRA: The investment grows tax-free and under certain situations distributions are tax free after five years. There are contribution limits, depending on income and other IRA investments made during the year. Minimum distributions are not required at age 70½. Read the Roth IRA brochure.
- Coverdell Education Savings Account: Distributions from this IRA are tax-free for qualified elementary, secondary or higher education costs, which can include tuition, computer equipment, room and board, etc., including those for Lutheran schools. Read the Coverdell Education Savings Account brochure.
Resources
- Unsure about whether to open a traditional or a Roth IRA? This brochure may help.
- Considering transferring an IRA to LCEF from another institution (often called rollovers)? Read our brochure on transfers and rollovers. For details and required forms, call 1-800-843-5233.
IRA Forms
Find the forms you need to open or maintain your IRA accounts with LCEF at our IRA Service Center.
Consult Your Tax Advisor
Neither LCEF nor its representatives give legal, accounting, or tax advice. We always suggest that you consult with your tax advisor as to the applicability of this information to your own situation.
For assistance in completing the necessary forms or have any questions, please call 1-800-843-5233.
Build a Better School Brand
Times have changed for today’s Lutheran schools. Leaders and parents must do more to attract and retain students and staff. To help schools remain viable, LCEF offers Project School Zone. In addition to coordinated marketing materials, Project School Zone is a resource for developing branding strategies with a downloadable handbook, quarterly e-newsletter and periodic free webinars.
The True Value of Your Investment
Your LCEF investment represents more than a monetary "net worth": it represents a desire to reach more people with the Gospel. The value to your heirs will not come in the balance, but in the fact that you want your funds to help expand or renovate churches, and support Lutheran schools and church workers. As you periodically review your beneficiary designations, tell them why LCEF is special to you.