Retirement Erisa

AME Church Ministerial Retirement Annuity Plan Settlement

Settlement Amount
$44.4M Symetra settlement

Claim Deadline
August 19, 2026

Total Fund
$44.4 Million

Symetra Life Insurance has agreed to pay $44.4 million as part of consolidated litigation over the AME Church ministerial retirement annuity plan. Plan participants as of June 30, 2021 receive an automatic account deposit proportional to their balance — no claim form required. Opt-out deadline: July 17, 2026. Fairness hearing: August 19, 2026.

Do I Qualify?

You may be eligible if:

You were a participant in the AME Church ministerial retirement annuity plan as of June 30, 2021
Your share is based on your account balance on that date
You do not opt out by mailing a signed request by July 17, 2026
No claim form is required for automatic distribution if approved

No claim form required. Distribution is automatic based on your June 30, 2021 account balance if the settlement is approved. Mail a signed opt-out by July 17, 2026 only if you want to exclude yourself.

File your claim through the official settlement website at amechurchretirementsettlement.com before August 19, 2026.

File Your Claim →

What Happened?

Plaintiffs allege tens of millions of dollars were lost from the AME Church ministerial retirement annuity plan after funds were diverted over many years into risky investments and to fees and commissions benefiting self-interested parties, in alleged breach of fiduciary duty.

Case caption: In re: AME Church Employee Retirement Fund Litigation, Case No. 1:22-md-03035-STA-jay, U.S. District Court, Western District of Tennessee.

The $44,400,000 Symetra settlement is part of approximately $106.2 million in combined total recovery in the litigation.

If approved, shares are automatically deposited into retirement accounts based on June 30, 2021 balances.

Fairness hearing is August 19, 2026. Verita Global administers information at AMEChurchRetirementSettlement.com.

How to File Your Claim

No claim form is required — distribution is automatic if the settlement is approved
Only take action if you want to exclude yourself by mailing a signed opt-out request by July 17, 2026
Fairness hearing is August 19, 2026
Administrator: Verita Global
Visit the official claim form: https://www.amechurchretirementsettlement.com/?utm_source=openclassactions.com

How Much Will I Actually Get?

No fixed per-person amount and no claim form needed. If approved, your share of the $44,400,000 Symetra settlement (part of approximately $106.2 million combined total recovery in the litigation) is automatically deposited into your retirement account based on your June 30, 2021 balance. Larger accounts receive a proportionally larger share.

Last reviewed: July 3, 2026 | Information verified from court records and official settlement documents.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who qualifies for the AME Church retirement settlement?

Participants in the AME Church ministerial retirement annuity plan as of June 30, 2021. Your share is based on your account balance on that date relative to all class members' balances.

Do I need to file anything for the AME Church retirement settlement?

No. If the settlement is approved, your share is automatically deposited into your retirement account. Only act if you want to opt out by mailing a signed request by July 17, 2026.

How much can I get from the AME Church retirement settlement?

There is no fixed amount. Your share is proportional to your June 30, 2021 account balance relative to all class members. Larger accounts receive larger shares from the $44.4 million Symetra settlement.

What if I want to opt out of the AME Church retirement settlement?

Mail a signed opt-out request by July 17, 2026 to preserve your right to sue separately. Instructions are on AMEChurchRetirementSettlement.com.

What did the AME Church retirement lawsuit allege?

Plaintiffs alleged tens of millions of dollars were lost from the ministerial retirement annuity plan after funds were diverted into risky investments and fees benefiting self-interested parties, in alleged breach of fiduciary duty under ERISA.