It’s Important…It’s Your Future: Where to Go to Learn More About Your TIAA-CREF Retirement Plan
Are you overwhelmed by the choices and information available about your TIAA-CREF retirement plan? You’re not alone. Think about taking baby steps towards educating yourself. Make a commitment each month to learn one new thing you didn’t know before about your retirement plan. And try out a different resource to get that information each month. You may find one that really works for you and helps you understand your retirement plan and its importance and value to you better.
You don’t know where to start? Try this www.tiaa-cref.org and see where it leads you
- There are 10 investment choices, and 10 additional lifecycle funds currently available to you.
Learn about one each month.
Focus on:
Rates for return: current, over a 3 - 5 – 10 year period, and since inception;
Expense charges
Asset classes
Does it invest in foreign markets or only domestic stocks? - Diversification: What does it mean? How do you achieve it?
- Income options available to you when you retire. Get the list, and start asking questions.
Who would select this option?
What would their life circumstances be like?
What’s a single life annuity?
What does it mean if I select a second annuitant, versus a beneficiary?
How much will I need when I retire?
How to Access Information About Your Retirement Plan
You have so many resources available to you to learn about your TIAA-CREF retirement plan. In addition to social network sites like Facebook and Twitter, here is a brief list of where you can go for more information:
- iPhone App: Savings Simplifier
- TIAA-CREF en español
- www.myretirement.org
- Schedule a private, face to face appointment with a TIAA-CREF representative at the Foundation. See schedule and sign up for appointment now.
- Don’t work on campus? Schedule a face to face appointment with a TIAA-CREF representative in North County. Call 1-800-732-8353 to find out when TIAA-CREF representatives will be in Del Mar.
- Webinars on the following topics: Just Starting Out, Are You on Target, and An Investment Check-Up, Retirement Countdown, and Market Volatility Series .
- Calculators
- Spend an hour a month reviewing information and reading important articles about retirement planning that are available to you on TIAA-CREF’s website at www.tiaa-cref.org.
- Telephone Counseling Center (at 800 842-2252), up to 7pm during the week and even on Saturdays
- Ask for independent investment advice by calling 800 842-2888.
If you need help getting started, feel free to contact Foundation Human Resources and ask to speak to a benefits specialist, benefits@foundation.sdsu.edu, or call 619-594-4139.