Tiaa's values
Our values drive our impact
For more than a century, TIAA has helped people retire with dignity and peace of mind. Our values-driven culture guides us to deliver a more secure financial future for all.
What drives us
Our mission
For over 100 years, TIAA has dutifully helped people achieve financial security in retirement. What began as a mission to serve educators now extends to everyone, driving impactful results with the expertise and dedication that plan sponsors, consultants, and the plan participants they serve have come to rely on. Together, we fight to make a more secure financial future available to everyone—and this commitment inspires and unites us in everything we do, on behalf of every individual and organization we serve.
Shining a light on what’s possible
In retirement, we provide everyone who relies on us with financial assurance for the rest of their lives. See how one retiree stays afloat in her own meaningful way.
Retirement must be what you want it to be, and it must be a ritual that every one of us looks forward to and plans for. I thought that's a great thing to do, would be to create the ritual that doesn't exist. And so I did. My name is Joyce Holley Bartlett. I chose to retire when I was 60 years old, which was about nine years ago.
I had a book when I was six years old that said I wanted to be a teacher, and I practiced on all my stuffed animals, and they were the most educated stuffed animals ever. I just loved being in a classroom, and I also loved learning. And so I went to school to be an elementary ed teacher. It just felt that I was important, I guess, and that I was doing something good.
When I was 58 years old, I came down the stairs at home one day and looked in the mirror and said, you know you're good at what you do, but you're tired of it. And then I announced my retirement. Everybody thought I was crazy. (laugh). Our TIAA advisor asked me what I wanted to do. I made the decision to take part of my retirement money and annuitize it into a lifetime income.
It gives you a peace of mind to know that there's a little bit out there that isn't going to change. About 2 or 3 days a week, I work as a narrator on a tour boat out of Newport. The first lighthouse we're going to see actually does not have the stereotypic vision of a lighthouse. So you might think, in fact, it's actually just a little house.
Every lighthouse is different. They all have a different light. They all have a different signal. They have a different foghorn. That could not be a better metaphor for TIAA because everybody is different. And TIAA has a lighthouse for everybody. I'm now living in my 10th year of retirement. What I feel most about being in this retirement is a liberation to be Joyce.
I've been doing what I wanted to do with teaching. That was all very important. But now I'm doing what I'm passionate about, and my joy is to know that I'm going to be okay. And then I get up every morning and I just sit quietly and bask in that thought.
What governs us
Our values in action
Our vision to be the leading provider of lifetime income is built on strong values born from an unwavering commitment to our participants and partners. These values are more than words. They’re the behaviors that guide how we show up, work together, and deliver on our mission.
We’re client obsessed
Everything we do begins with our clients. Their goals, challenges, and future drive the decisions we make and the solutions we deliver. This focus ensures we’re always working to help people achieve financial security with dignity.
We champion our people
We encourage growth, support each other’s well-being, and value different perspectives. This helps us bring out the best in each other and empowers us to generate the innovative ideas and comprehensive solutions our clients deserve.
We lead with integrity
Our actions are grounded in honesty, transparency, and a deep responsibility to those who rely on us. This commitment to integrity creates the foundation of trust our clients need to feel confident in their financial future with us.
We “own it”
We take responsibility and act urgently and flexibly to deliver the best possible outcomes. This accountability ensures our clients can depend on us to execute with excellence and stand behind our commitments.
We win together
Collaboration fuels progress. We break down silos, share knowledge, and work as one team to deliver results for everyone we serve. This unified approach ensures our clients benefit from our collective expertise and integrated solutions.
Working with TIAA
There are many reasons to work with us. From our stable history and sound investment strategies to our dedication to every person and institution we support, it makes sense to partner with TIAA. Steeped in a culture that fuels continuous innovation, we are focused on driving excellence in every interaction and outcome.
Driven by purpose, TIAA associates have a passion for making a difference. The institutions we serve benefit from a collective commitment to help people retire with dignity.
Join our mission
Our values-driven approach enhances partnerships and retirement plan outcomes, the same way AI-powered excellence helps us enhance—not replace—human expertise. We’re committed to providing better experiences, plans, and support. Discover how you might fit into our mission.
This material is for informational or educational purposes only and is not fiduciary investment advice, or a securities, investment strategy, or insurance product recommendation. This material does not consider an individual’s own objectives or circumstances which should be the basis of any investment decision.