Whether you need help budgeting, applying for student loan forgiveness, creating a debt repayment plan, estimating if you are on track for retirement, or investing in the UCC Lifetime Retirement Income Plan, PBUCC provides free and confidential assistance so you can focus on your life or ministry career journey. Read below to learn about your options to discuss your unique financial situation by phone.
Housing counseling assistance with a certified HUD counselor
Credit improvement
Debt management plans
All PBUCC members and their immediate family, spouses/partners
Fidelity Retirement Planners
Call 800.642.6543, option 4, from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Mon-Fri
Stay on track to save for retirement
Identify the PBUCC investment fund that suits you best
Update your contributions rates, beneficiaries, or other personal information
All PBUCC members with accumulating assets in the Lifetime Retirement Income Plan
PBUCC Pension Counselors
Call 800.642.6543
Turn your PBUCC Lifetime Retirement Income Plan into monthly payments
Understand the options for your PBUCC benefits at retirement
All PBUCC members (targeted towards members aged 45 and older)
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Financial Counseling for You and Your Family Needs
Overview of LSS Financial Choice
LSS Financial Choice is an enhanced service that provides nonjudgmental support, financial guidance, and proven tools to achieve your financial wellness goals.
Through your LSS Financial Choice benefit, PBUCC members including their immediate family, spouses/partners, can receive six free counseling sessions per year including:
Student Loan forgiveness
Budget and debt management counseling
Certified HUD housing counseling
Credit improvement
Debt management plans
Everyone can benefit from a financial check-up, and LSS Financial Choice can provide the guidance, tools, and support you need in your financial journey. All sessions with Financial Choice counselors are free and confidential. Appointments are available by phone or online.
Navigate the menu above to learn more about ways you can utilize the LSS Financial Choice Benefit!
IMPORTANT NOTE: LSS Financial Counseling is an experienced, full-service credit counseling agency, but they do not discuss retirement or investment planning. For questions about your PBUCC retirement account, call Member Services at 800.642.6543 from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. ET, Mon.-Fri., to be directed to a Fidelity Retirement Planner.
Testimonial
“I had the privilege to work with my LSS Financial Choice counselor and I am beyond grateful for her advocacy and support. I received so many mixed messages regarding the PSLF (Public Student Loan Forgiveness) process and was utterly confused. There was no way I thought I would qualify and honestly just called on a whim. Did she light a fire under me! She answered all my questions over the course of a few months and continued to be easily accessible during my long waiting period.
Thanks to her encouragement and guidance. I was able to erase over $30,000 in student loans. This is always good news, but it has also opened up some other opportunities I probably would’ve had to wait another 10 years for."
Are you having trouble paying off your student loan debt, or understanding your student loan repayment options? Perhaps you are wondering if you qualify for federal student loan forgiveness programs?
Whether you are in school right now, in the process of paying off your loans, or helping someone else with their student loans, we are here to guide you through the available student loan repayment options and assist you with developing a plan to achieve financial wellness.
LSS’s nonprofit student loan counselors can assist in two ways:
1: They provide free expert guidance for student loan repayment.
2: They make sure you are aware of available resources to help ease the burden.
LSS’s student loan counselors will:
Explore student loan repayment options for all student loans and your potential solutions.
Determine your eligibility for federal student loan repayment programs and loan forgiveness programs.
Support you with a holistic approach and creating a budget to cover monthly expenses, including student loan payments.
Work with you to contact private lenders to determine possible student loan repayment solutions.
Help you come up with a plan to avoid default and the related consequences.
Work with you to bring your student loans current if you’ve fallen behind on payments or are in default.
Create an individualized action plan to help you regain control of your finances.
Testimonial
“Natalie” met with her student loan counselor multiple times. Before meeting with a counselor, she felt like PSLF (Public Student Loan Forgiveness) just never worked out for her. After looking over her situation, the counselor walked her through the steps to qualify for PSLF, and they did that process together. Natalie submitted her PSLF forms in December 2023. By April 2024, she received notice that all loans were forgiven as of February 2024. She was very excited to see all $0 balances and be done! “I really appreciate all your assistance and guidance in this complex subject and process. You really took the time and made it easier to understand. I am forever grateful to you.”
LSS Financial Choice counselors are here to assist you with creating a plan, so you will feel confident in managing your finances. They are certified by the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC) and can help evaluate your current financial situation, help you learn about your spending habits, and discuss debt management options.
LSS Financial Counseling is accredited by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to help individuals and families understand the home purchasing process, what steps to take to fix budgeting and credit problems, and how to avoid predatory lending practices.
LSS Financial Counselors can help in several ways:
Homeownership Counseling
Buying a home can be a great financial asset for you and your family. Through this service, a HUD-certified housing counselor works with you to get your finances in order and walk you through the homebuying process. You can be sure you are doing things right and setting yourself up for long-term success with our trusted support and resources for anyone considering homeownership.
Foreclosure Prevention Counseling
LSS HUD-certified housing counselors are specialists in foreclosure avoidance and prevention. They will set up a plan of action designed just for you and your situation.
65% of homeowners who received foreclosure prevention counseling services were able to avoid foreclosure.
Reverse Mortgage Counseling
LSS HUD-certified housing counselors provide homeowners with impartial reverse mortgage education and discuss how a reverse mortgage will affect your financial situation.
Testimonial
“Aaron” and “Abigail” were ready to explore homeownership and they spoke with an LSS HUD-certified housing counselors about the pros and cons of buying a home. As a result of the conversation, they were able to guide their decision-making process.
“The LSS counselor was friendly and had a positive attitude.”
A key component to gaining control of your finances is improving your credit score over time. Your credit score is used in decisions regarding eligibility for loans, the cost of insurance premiums, and even employment and rental applications. A LSS Financial Choice counselor will discuss the key components of your credit score and ways to increase it. With your permission, they will pull your credit report and credit score so you can organize your finances, and address and correct potential errors in the report.
Testimonial
“Sara” was curious about her credit score and wanted to find ways to improve it before her family had to move to another state. She was able to meet with a financial counselor a few times, and together they reviewed her credit situation and came up with some action steps. As a result, her credit score increased by 100 points! She was very excited about her progress, as this will help her with future plans.
Are you choosing which bills to pay this month? Are you dealing with credit card debt? Are debt collectors continually harassing you? Are you feeling stressed about money? Discuss your options with an LSS Financial Choice counselor.
LSS offers debt relief services such as a Debt Management Plan (DMP), which may lower your payments and reduce interest rates by consolidating your payments into one payment each month. LSS is certified by the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC) and their financial counselors are ready to support you in achieving financial wellness!
LSS Debt Management Plan: (Hypothetical example for illustrative purposes only)
Self-Pay
LSS Debt Management Plan
$15,000
$15,000
APR: 21.5%
APR: 7.3% (average)
Minimum payment
Fixed Payment (2) = $350
Time to pay off = 161 years!
Time to pay off = less than 5 years
Interest repaid = $158,050
Interest + fees paid = $4,808
What is a Debt Management Plan?
A Debt Management Plan (DMP) is an agreement made between you and your creditors to pay off outstanding debts. You create a plan with a financial counselor, consolidate your payments, then make one payment to LSS each month, who sends the funds to your creditors.
Payments for a DMP are typically lower than your current payments, and most creditors will significantly reduce interest rates and stop fees once you are on a DMP. With on-time payments, your debt can be paid off substantially faster.
Is There a Fee?
Your budget and debt counseling sessions with a LSS Financial Choice counselor are completely free. If you choose to start a Debt Management Plan, you will pay a small monthly fee to LSS. This can vary by the state you live in and the amount you owe. Your LSS Financial Counselor will explain all your options and applicable fees during your counseling session.
Testimonial
“Betty” had accumulated debt over the years and was handling it alright but was going through a divorce and needed to get an apartment on her own. When she met with her financial counselor, she expressed concern about her high payments and interest with the credit card debt. Betty signed up for the Debt Management Plan (DMP) which saved her $23,752 in interest and reduced her monthly payment by $300 per month. She successfully paid off her DMP in four and a half years and also increased her credit score by 77 points. Betty is now debt free! She emailed her counselor, "Thank you so much for helping me. I can't believe it."
As a benefit of your PBUCC Lifetime Retirement Income Plan, Fidelity Retirement Planners can help you see if you are on track for retirement and help you choose the investments in your account. Calls are unlimited, confidential, and there are no sales involved. Call via Pension Boards Members Services and ask to speak with a Fidelity Retirement Planner at 1.800.642.6543, from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Mon-Fri.
Fidelity NetBenefits® Online and App
Access all your PBUCC Lifetime Retirement Income Account — anytime, anywhere using the NetBenefits® online or the mobile app.
To access Fidelity NetBenefits® online, go to PBUCC.ORG > Member Login > Access Fidelity NetBenefits®. After you register and create a username and password, you can use the mobile app.
You can also download the NetBenefits® smartphone app for on-the-go access to your Fidelity workplace accounts.
VIEW Review your account balances, investments, your personal rate of return, next steps, and more.
ACT Change contributions or investments, update your profile or beneficiaries, send paperwork, and more.
* System availability and response times may vary.
PBUCC Pension Counselors can help you turn your PBUCC retirement savings into lifetime monthly retirement income. They will guide you from the day you decide to retire until your lifetime monthly payments begin. They will discuss important considerations, including selecting the right annuity for you, pension payment options, and your ability to take a partial lump-sum payment.
