Responsible investing at TIAA

Working to make an enduring impact on our world

Responsible investing (RI) is an approach that integrates material environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors, alongside traditional financial criteria, into the investment process.

Responsible investing in action

Sustainable. Socially conscious. Ethical. No matter how it's described, responsible investing has the same objectives: to manage risk, create investment opportunity and enhance long-term performance potential—all while driving positive change.

When evaluating companies for our ESG-focused products, Nuveen, our investment manager, considers the following factors:

Environmental

Climate impact, energy consumption, waste management and natural resource use

Social

Diversity and inclusion, employee engagement and development, labor relations, human rights practices, product safety and consumer protection

Governance

Management structure, board accountability and independence, executive compensation, audits and internal controls, and shareholder rights

Invested in making a difference

Being a leader in responsible investing begins with being a responsible business. At TIAA, we’re always looking for ways to unlock investment potential while doing right by our clients, employees and communities.

  • The TIAA General Account,1 backing our flagship fixed annuity product, is committed to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

  • Recognized as one of the nation’s most diverse companies, we foster an inclusive workplace that reflects the diversity of our clients and the communities we serve.2

  • To meet a higher standard of transparency, we disclose all vote rationales—over 400 in total—for every proposal we initiate at S&P 500 companies.3

 

Video: Climate change and your retirement investmentsOpens dialog

Looking out for our investors and the planet

From shrinking carbon footprints4 to increasing equality,5 TIAA and Nuveen are dedicated to shaping a brighter future.

2022 Climate Report: Ensuring our future

We view climate risk as investment risk and remain committed to providing secure retirement to our clients through our carbon reduction and risk management approaches.

2021 – 2022 Annual Stewardship Report: At-a-glance

Our approach to stewardship is designed to meaningfully advance ESG transparency, accountability and real-world impact. By regularly engaging with our portfolio companies, we can reduce investment risk while creating long-term value for our clients.

2021 Responsible Business Report: Owning it through challenge + change

2021 brought major changes and challenges spanning health, social justice and economics. As issues evolved, TIAA rallied and responded quickly with innovative solutions.

Two partners, one purpose

As champions of responsible investing, TIAA and Nuveen support over $43 billion in ESG-focused strategies.6 Together, we have the experience, resources and vision to help you build a portfolio you can be proud of.

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Invest well while doing good

Whether you’re contributing to a workplace retirement plan or investing on your own, we can help you create a portfolio that meets your financial needs and provides for a better world.

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1 The TIAA General Account is an insurance company account and is not available to investors as an investment. All guarantees are subject to TIAA’s claims-paying ability.

2 Top 50 Companies for Diversity – DiversityInc (2013 – 2022)

3 Nuveen's Key proxy vote rationales for 2021 – 2022

4 2022 TIAA Climate Report

5 2021 Global Fixed Income Impact Report

6 Based on assets under management as of June 30, 2022.

Responsible investing incorporates Environmental Social Governance (ESG) factors that may affect exposure to issuers, sectors and industries, limiting the type and number of investment opportunities available, which could result in excluding investments that perform well.

This material is for informational or educational purposes only and does not constitute fiduciary investment advice under ERISA, a securities recommendation under all securities laws, or an insurance product recommendation under state insurance laws or regulations. This material does not take into account any specific objectives or circumstances of any particular investor, or suggest any specific course of action. Investment decisions should be made based on the investor’s own objectives and circumstances.

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