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Frequently asked questions

What do I do after I enroll?

After enrolling, you'll receive a TIAA Welcome Kit and a Legal Package including your contract and contract number.
Review your Welcome Kit carefully to verify the information is correct, including investments and beneficiary information.
You may also review your existing accounts and make transactions online by logging into your secure account.

How can I see my accounts and perform transactions online?

When you enroll online, you create an individual account where you can view your balances, change your investment mix, make transfers and other transactions.

If you're already enrolled, log in to your secure account from the login button at the top of the home page of this site.

Can I get help choosing my investments?

What is the difference between a mutual fund and an annuity?

There are a number of important differences between mutual funds and annuities when they are offered under a retirement plan.

A mutual fund is a pool of securities, such as stocks and bonds, managed by an investment company.
An annuity is an insurance contract with one or more fixed-rate and variable investment options.

As for income options, annuities offer you the opportunity for lifetime income with or without guaranteed payments for a fixed time period*. Or you can decide to receive income for a certain number of years or take a cash withdrawal (depending on your plan’s provisions). Mutual funds offer systematic withdrawals. Otherwise, mutual funds and annuities are treated very similarly when offered as part of your employer’s retirement plan.

*Guarantees are subject to the claims-paying capability of the insurer. Payments from variable accounts will fluctuate based on investment performance.

What are the benefits of owning mutual funds?

Many participants enjoy the diversity of investing in mutual funds in their retirement plans.

The mutual funds chosen for your retirement savings plan provide the opportunity to focus on specific market segments - all of which offer varying degrees of risk and reward opportunities.
By owning a combination of funds with different investment characteristics, you may be able to offset the poor performance of one asset class with another that is benefiting from an upward trend. However, diversification doesn't guarantee against loss.

Who would benefit most from owning mutual funds?

Mutual funds offer diversification, professional management, relatively low investment minimums and fees, and a range of choices among different asset classes.

Owning mutual funds can reduce risk through diversification and professional management, and allow you to potentially invest in a broad range of asset classes – U.S. and non-U.S. stocks, bonds, and real estate – with smaller amounts of assets.

Is there a tax advantage to owning variable annuities versus mutual funds?

No, there is no tax advantage to owning variable annuities or mutual funds in your TIAA-funded retirement plan. Both options receive favorable tax treatment under the plan.

I have a form requiring notarization. How do I find an online Notary?

There are several technology companies that offer end-to-end notarization systems. TIAA has partnered with Proof.com (f/k/a Notarize.com) (proof.com/customers/tiaaOpens in a new window) to offer a digital and secure way for you to fulfill notarization requirements for your forms.

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State University System of Florida

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We have the tools, videos and advisors to help you prepare for retirement.

Goals & savings

Not sure where to begin?

Tell us about your future goals and we'll help you plan.

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Goals & savings

Question 1 of 5

How do you picture your lifestyle in retirement?

Will it differ from how you live today?

I want to live the way I'm living today

I want to simplify

I want the flexibility to do what I want in retirement

Question 1 of 5

I want to live the way I’m living today

Many financial planners estimate that you’ll need 80-90% of your pre-retirement income to maintain your lifestyle in retirement. As you get older, more of that money may need to go toward healthcare and other essential expenses.

Retirement annuities can help replace your salary with monthly income that’s guaranteed for life.

Question 2 of 5

How do you feel about the amount you've saved so far?

I haven't really started yet

I need to catch up

I'm on the right track

Question 2 of 5

You can start saving now and make the most of your benefits

Contributing even a small amount now can potentially make a big difference by the time you retire. The earlier you start contributing to retirement plan investments, the more you can potentially save.

Thanks to compounding, any earnings on your investments gets reinvested and can potentially earn even more money, and so on.

Take advantage of your job’s retirement benefits. Many employers offer contribution matching. Other benefits may be available, such as pre-tax and tax-deferred contributing, which could help maximize your savings.

Please keep in mind that there are inherent risks in investing. It is possible to lose money by investing in securities.

Question 3 of 5

When you enroll, how much do you plan to contribute per pay period?

Less than 10%

10 - 15%

Unsure

Question 3 of 5

The sooner you get started, the more you can potentially save

Any savings have the potential to help in the future, but ideally, you still should aim for 10-15% of your pre-tax income annually.

Social Security will only replace about 40% of your pre-retirement income for the average worker, so you and your employer need to cover the rest.

Please keep in mind that there are inherent risks in investing. It is possible to lose money by investing in securities.

Question 4 of 5

Let's talk investing. Do you feel comfortable picking your own investments?

Yes

Question 4 of 5

We’re glad you feel confident. If you need help, we’re here.

During enrollment, once you choose your contribution amount, you can direct your contributions to a range of investment options.

View and compare your investment options before you enroll.

Question 5 of 5

At this point, do you feel ready to enroll?

Yes

Question 5 of 5

Great, let’s get you on your way!

To recap, here's what you'll want to think about when you enroll:

Save at least enough to trigger your employer's match (if available)
Aim to save a total of 10-15% pre-tax annually
Add incremental increases annually to painlessly boost your savings over time

Begin enrollment

Restart

Question 1 of 5

I want to live the way I’m living today

Retirement annuities can help replace your salary with monthly income that’s guaranteed for life.

Question 1 of 5

Simplifying can help your money last longer

Think how long your retirement savings will need to last. People are living longer than ever. When we turn 65, there’s an 80% probability that we’ll live to 80, and a 27% chance we’ll reach 95.*

Plan to save at least enough to cover the essential and inevitable expenses, like healthcare, long after you retire.

Think about using TIAA’s online Retirement Journey Planner to help you set goals and create a plan that may help achieve them.

* TIAA Mortality Tables 2013

Question 1 of 5

Consider these ways to maximize your future retirement income:

Contribute the maximum annual amount to your retirement savings. The most you can contribute in 2026 is $24,500 per IRS rules.

Consider contributing to annuities¹that offer growth opportunities while your're saving and monthly income that’s guaranteed for life when you retire.

¹Annuities are designed for retirement savings or for other long-term goals. They offer several payment options, including lifetime income. If you make a withdrawal prior to age 59½, you may be subject to a 10% penalty in addition to ordinary income tax. The value of a variable annuity is subject to market fluctuations and investment risk so that, if withdrawn, it may be worth more or less than its original cost.

Question 2 of 5

You can start saving now and make the most of your benefits

Thanks to compounding, any earnings on your investments gets reinvested and can potentially earn even more money, and so on.

Please keep in mind that there are inherent risks in investing. It is possible to lose money by investing in securities.

Question 2 of 5

Think about these three easy things to do to help you pursue your goals for retirement:

Contribute as much as you can afford, up to the IRS limit
Get the most from any employer matches (if they're available)
Check your investment mix. Does it still make sense in relation to your age and lifestyle? Strive for a smart balance of aggressive and conservative investments that fit your needs.

Please keep in mind that there are inherent risks in investing. It is possible to lose money by investing in securities.

Question 2 of 5

Good! Keep on track and continue making contributions to your plan

Think about these three easy things you can do to keep your momentum & finish strong:

Taking advantage of any new plans or matches your employer may offer.

Reviewing your current investment mix to see if you need to rebalance your portfolio as you near retirement.

Protecting your retirement savings through guaranteed annuities. These lower risk products offer a guaranteed income that you can’t outlive. You may have access to these products when you choose your options in enrollment.

Annuities are designed for retirement and other long-term goals. They offer several payment options, including lifetime income. Guarantees are based on the claims-paying ability of the issuer. However, payments from CREF and TIAA variable annuities are not guaranteed and the payment amounts will rise or fall depending on investment returns. Investment in variable products is subject to the risks associated with investing in securities, including loss of principal. Withdrawals of earnings are subject to ordinary income tax plus a possible federal 10% penalty if made before age 59½.

Question 3 of 5

The sooner you get started, the more you can potentially save

Any savings have the potential to help in the future, but ideally, you still should aim for 10-15% of your pre-tax income annually.

Social Security will only replace about 40% of your pre-retirement income for the average worker, so you and your employer need to cover the rest.

Please keep in mind that there are inherent risks in investing. It is possible to lose money by investing in securities.

Question 3 of 5

Great! 10-15% is what most financial consultants recommend

Aim to contribute this much (which can include contributions from your employer, if available) throughout your entire working career.

If your employer offers to match your contribution, make sure you save enough to trigger that match. Most employers require you to save a certain amount before they will match it – when they do, it’s all extra money! Take advantage of it.

Question 3 of 5

That’s okay! As a general guide, aim to contribute 10-15%

Question 4 of 5

We’re glad you feel confident. If you need help, we’re here.

During enrollment, once you choose your contribution amount, you can direct your contributions to a range of investment options.

View and compare your investment options before you enroll.

Question 4 of 5

No worries! We can help you pick investments that work for you.

Question 5 of 5

Great, let’s get you on your way!

To recap, here's what you'll want to think about when you enroll:

Save at least enough to trigger your employer's match (if available)
Aim to save a total of 10-15% pre-tax annually
Add incremental increases annually to painlessly boost your savings over time

Question 5 of 5

That’s okay! We can help with more education

We realize the enrollment process requires making tough decisions. There are often lots of complex rules and regulations, and it can be hard to figure out what plans & benefits you’re eligible for or which investments are available to you.

You can leave the tool now and go to Insights to read articles, use tools and see videos that will help you step forward.

Takeaways

Key considerations

Saving now & later

Professionals generally recommend that you contribute 10-15% of your pre-tax income towards retirement.

You can start to put away money now for your future to be potentially prepared later. You may be pleasantly surprised at how easy this can be.

Annuities – the benefit of lifetime income

Discover the advantages of saving in our fixed and variable annuities. During your working years, fixed annuities provide guaranteed growth every day – no matter the market,¹ and variable annuities can provide the potential for growth to help fight inflation and rising costs.²

In retirement, you can convert all or a part of your savings to lifetime income you can’t outlive.³ Explore the fixed and variable options in your employer retirement plans.

¹ Any guarantees under annuities issued by TIAA are subject to TIAA's claims-paying ability.

² Payments will fluctuate based on the performance of the underlying accounts.

³ Exchanging your savings for income payments (referred to as “annuitization”) is a permanent decision and once lifetime income payments has been selected you are unable to change to another option.
Need help managing your retirement account? Opens in new window
You can get professional investment management for your retirement account. Retirement Plan Portfolio Manager, an optional fee‐based managed account service, provides ongoing professional money management to help you pursue your retirement income goals.
Diversification – balance your portfolio to help manage risk
While diversification is a technique to help reduce risk, there is no guarantee that it will protect against a loss of income.

Like a balanced diet, it may be a good idea to strive to have a balanced portfolio. We can help you figure out what to do when – and how to make smart financial decisions along the way.
Retirement income planning
Whatever your retirement dream, it’s important to know what income you will need. Smart investing starts with a solid grasp of the basics. The more you know, the better prepared you are to make good investment decisions.

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