Compare different versions of TIAA Traditional*.
TIAA Traditional comes in different versions, or contract types, that are selected by your employer for your retirement plan. You may have access to multiple versions and can view your available options.
*Issued by Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America (TIAA), New York, NY.
Understanding TIAA Traditional liquidity
Delayed liquidity = more potential over the long-term
Designed for long-term savers, these contracts historically provide higher interest rates than our fully liquid contracts in exchange for some limitations on transfers and withdrawals. That means your balance has more opportunity to grow over time.
Many employers choose this option for base plan contributions to help encourage disciplined savings and build a strong foundation.
Full liquidity = flexibility and access
You can move in and out of these contracts as desired in exchange for a slightly lower interest rate than with delayed liquidity versions as you save for retirement. This flexibility may be helpful if you want easier access to funds in a lump sum.
| Delayed liquidity contracts | Full liquidity contracts |
|---|---|
Retirement Choice (RC) Lump sum withdrawals are available within 120 days after termination of employment with a 2.5% surrender charge. All other transfers and withdrawals must be paid in installments over an 84-month period (not subject to a surrender charge). |
Retirement Choice Plus (RCP) Lump sum transfers and withdrawals are available at any time with no surrender charges.1 Under some contracts, transfers to competing funds must first be transferred to non-competing funds where it must remain for 90 days.2 |
Group Retirement Annuity (GRA) Lump sum withdrawals are available within 120 days after termination of employment with a 2.5% surrender charge.All other transfers and withdrawals must be paid in 10 annual installments (not subject to a surrender charge). |
Group Supplemental Retirement Annuity (GSRA) Lump sum transfers and withdrawals are available at any time with no surrender charges.1 |
Retirement Annuity (RA) Transfers and withdrawals must be paid in 10 annual installments (not subject to a surrender charge). |
Supplemental Retirement Annuity (SRA) Lump sum transfers and withdrawals are available at any time with no surrender charges.1 |
TIAA Traditional income, transfer and withdrawal options by contract type
Income options
|
Retirement Annuity (RA) |
Group Retirement Annuity (GRA) |
Supplemental Retirement Annuity (SRA) |
Group Supplemental Retirement Annuity (GSRA) |
Retirement Choice Annuity (RC) |
Retirement Choice Plus Annuity (RCP) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lifetime income | ||||||
| Fixed period annuity |
5-30 years (after |
2-30 years |
5-30 years |
|||
Interest only option (IPRO) |
||||||
| Required minimum distribution |
Transfer/withdrawal options
Retirement (RA) |
Group retirement (GRA) |
Supplemental (SRA) |
Group Supplemental Retirement Annuity (GSRA) |
Retirement Choice (RC) |
Retirement Choice (RCP)3 |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lump-sum withdrawal |
Only within 120 days after termination; subject to a 2.5% surrender charge |
Only within 120 days after termination; subject to a 2.5% surrender charge |
||||
| Transfer payout annuity |
10 payments over 9 |
10 payments over 9 |
84 monthly installments |
1 If you transfer out of TIAA Traditional and transfer back in under the same contract within 120 days, the amount transferred in, up to the total amount transferred out, will be credited with the same interest rates that would have applied if the transfer out had not taken place. Such interest will be credited from the date the transfer in was made. Interest will not be paid for the period from the date of the transfer out to the date of transfer in. This rule applies to all transfers into TIAA Traditional when there are one or more transfers out within the prior 120 days. We refer to this as “time period restoration.”
2 Certain Retirement Choice Plus contracts impose a "90-day equity wash rule". Under those contracts, if your plan offers investment options known as "competing funds" (for example, a money market account, short-term bond funds or self-directed brokerage accounts), and you want to transfer money from TIAA Traditional to one of those options, the amount you transfer must first be directed to a noncompeting option (for example, a stock fund or intermediate-term bond fund), where it must remain for 90 days before being transferred to the competing fund, including transferring back to TIAA Traditional. (TIAA Contract form IGRSP-02-ACC / TIAA Certificate form IGRSP-CERT3-ACC).
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.
Annuity contracts may contain terms for keeping them in force. We can provide you with costs and complete details.
TIAA Traditional is a fixed annuity issued by Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America (TIAA), 730 Third Avenue, New York, NY, 10017: Form series including but not limited to: 1000.24; G-1000.4; IGRS-01-84-ACC; IGRSP-01-84-ACC; 6008.8. Not all contracts are available in all states or currently issued.