Ithaca College 403(b) Retirement Plan

Plan information

Ithaca College offers this plan as part of workplace benefits. Now is a great time to understand what is offered - think about taking advantage of any opportunities to save and invest for the future.

Learn what plans allow eligible employees to do.

When you set aside 3% of your annual salary on a tax deferred basis to the plan, Ithaca College will provide a matching contribution of 7.5% of your base salary. The match is made on a per pay period basis. Get your full match from Ithaca College by spreading your contributions over the entire year.

You can also make Roth contributions that can grow tax-free.

Ithaca College 403(b) Retirement Plan

Auto Enrollment
New eligible employees, hired after August 1, 2022, are automatically enrolled at a 3% employee contribution rate. Ithaca College will provide a matching contribution. Participation is voluntary and employees can change or stop their contributions at any time.

This will be a recurring feature on August 1 of every year for all employees who opt out of the automatic enrollment feature and do not make a salary deferral election or have elected a savings rate of less than 3%.

As of August 1, 2022 and in order to help your savings keep pace with your long-term goals, if you were automatically enrolled in the plan and have not opted out or made a change to your contribution rate, you also have been set up for the automatic increase feature. The minimum contribution rate is set at 3% of your annual salary. Through convenient payroll deductions, your contribution rate automatically increases annually by 1%.

The increase will automatically occur on August 1 of each calendar year, until a maximum contribution rate of 15% is reached. You can elect in or opt out of the automatic increase feature at any time.


Benefits-eligible faculty and staff may participate in the plan immediately provided at least age 21.

When are new employees vested? Opens dialog

LOANS

Loans are available from a minimum of $1,000 to a maximum of $50,000 from each employer that you are eligible to take a loan from. How much you can borrow may depend on the amount you currently have in the plan that is eligible for loans and whether you have other outstanding loans. If you have money in other employer's plans, you may be able to transfer or roll it over to the Ithaca College retirement plan to increase your maximum loan amount. This is only if the Ithaca College retirement plan accepts rollovers.

IMPORTANT: TIAA doesn't offer loans on Roth accumulations in 403(b)/401(k) plans. The maximum loan amount available to you is calculated based on the total accumulations in your contract, minus any Roth accumulations.

Prior to rolling over, consider your other options. You may also be able to leave money in your current plan, withdraw cash or roll over the money to an IRA. Compare the differences in investment options, services, fees and expenses, withdrawal options, required minimum distributions, other plan features, and tax treatment. Contact TIAA or your HR Office to verify details of your plan(s) in regards to loan availability and transfer/rollover loan eligibility.

DISTRIBUTIONS

Age based distribution

Your employer will typically allow you to withdraw funds once you've reached 59.50.

Lump-sum distribution

You can withdraw all or part of your account in a single cash payment, depending on your plan rules and the terms of your contracts.

  • Your right to a lump-sum distribution from your TIAA Traditional Account may be restricted to taking periodic payments under the terms of the contract. Please refer to your contract or certificate for full details or contact us at 800-842-2252.

Systematic withdrawals

If your plan allows, you can choose to receive regular income payments on a semimonthly, monthly, quarterly, semiannual or annual basis. You can increase, decrease or suspend the payments at any time.

  • These withdrawals are not available from TIAA Traditional Account balances.

Small-sum distribution

When you leave your employer, you may be eligible to withdraw your retirement savings. Your plan may distribute your entire balance if the value does not exceed $2,000. Even if your plan doesn't allow cash distributions, you can withdraw your entire retirement savings if your TIAA Traditional Account value does not exceed $2,000 and your overall account balance is below a limit set by your employer's plan (either $1,000 or $5,000).

Disability

You can withdraw elective deferrals and earnings from your retirement plan while employed by your institution but not working due to a disability.

  • To qualify you must be totally and permanently disabled, and the deferrals and earnings must have been credited to your plan on or after January 1, 1989.
  • Disability withdrawals are not subject to the 10% IRS penalty on withdrawals prior to age 59½.

Hardship

If your plan permits, you can withdraw some of the money you've put in over the years (but not earnings) due to financial hardship, such as medical or funeral expenses, while still employed.

  • Generally, you must show an immediate, significant need that cannot be met with other resources, including loans from your retirement plan.

Lifetime retirement income

  • One-life annuity - provides income for as long as you live.
  • Two-life annuity - provides lifetime income for you and an annuity partner (your spouse or someone else you name) for as long as either of you live.
  • One- or two-life annuity with guaranteed period - guarantees income for up to 20 years, as long as the period you choose does not exceed your life expectancy. It ensures that income continues to go to your beneficiaries for the remainder of the guaranteed period if you (one-life annuity) or both you and your annuity partner (two-life annuity) die before the end of that period.

Other in service

If your plan permits, you can withdraw cash from your account while still employed by your institution, but you generally must meet an IRS-defined "triggering event" to qualify.

Single-sum death benefit

A set amount your beneficiary(ies) will receive from your retirement account if you die before taking income.

Fixed period

You can choose to receive income for a set period of two to 30 years, depending on the terms of our contract and your plan's rules (and not to exceed your life expectancy).

  • Payments stop at the end of the period, during which you will have received all your principal and earnings.

Interest only

You can receive the current interest earned on your TIAA Traditional Account in monthly payments. Your principal remains intact while you receive the interest.

  • These payments generally are available to individuals who have attained age 55 but have not yet reached RMD Applicable Age and must begin at least one year prior to reaching RMD Applicable age. Your RMD Applicable Age was 70 ½ if you were born before 7/1/49; 72 if you were born on or after 7/1/49 or in 1950; 73 if you were born between 1951 and 1958; 75 if you were born in 1960 or later. If you were born in 1959, federal guidance is needed to determine if your RMD Applicable Age is 73 or 75. 

Retirement transition benefit

In order to more easily transition into retirement, you may be able to withdraw up to 10%, in cash, of your lifetime annuity income. The amount you withdraw will reduce your lifetime annuity income accordingly.

TPA to cash

If you need some of your retirement savings in cash, you can withdraw your TIAA Traditional Account balance through a Transfer Payout Annuity (TPA) under the terms of the contract. A lump-sum payment, subject to a surrender fee, may be available depending on your plan rules and the terms of your contract.

For more information about the terms of your individual contract, contact your plan sponsor or financial advisor.

Rollover

Prior to rolling over, consider your options. You may be able to leave money in your current plan or withdraw cash. Compare the differences in investment options, services, fees and expenses, withdrawal options, required minimum distributions, other plan features, and tax treatment.

If you have had an IRS-defined "triggering event," and your plan allows withdrawals, you can roll over your accumulations to another retirement plan that will accept them or to an Individual Retirement Account (IRA).

  • Direct rollovers - from one account to another - are nontaxable and not reported as income to the federal government. Your plan's rules specify when you are eligible for a distribution.

Minimum distribution option

You must begin taking minimum distributions from your IRAs and employer retirement plan accounts by your required beginning date (or retirement, if later for employer retirement plan accounts). For IRAs (other than Roth IRAs), your required beginning date is April 1 of the year following the calendar year in which you reach your RMD Applicable Age. For employer-sponsored retirement plans, your required beginning date is April 1 of the year following the calendar year in which you reach your RMD Applicable Age or retire from the plan sponsor, if later. 

Your RMD Applicable Age was 70 ½ if you were born before 7/1/49; 72 if you were born on or after 7/1/49 or in 1950; 73 if you were born between 1951 and 1958; 75 if you were born in 1960 or later. If you were born in 1959, federal guidance is needed to determine if your RMD Applicable Age is 73 or 75.

If you're married, you may be required to get spousal consent to receive any distribution option other than a qualified joint and survivor annuity.

This plan allows you to receive a cash withdrawal. This may be restricted by the terms of your TIAA contracts. Taxes and penalties may apply.

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