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Frequently asked questions

How can I contact TIAA?

For help and advice, call us anytime at 800-842-2888. You can also contact us online.

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?

For help and advice, schedule an appointment with a TIAA investment professional or attend a seminarOpens in a new window.

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.

Retirement benefits
The University of North Carolina Optional Retirement Program

University of North Carolina 403(b) Plan

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The University of North Carolina Optional Retirement Program
University of North Carolina 403(b) Plan
University of North Carolina 457(b) Plan

Back to main menu

Plan overview

The University of North Carolina Optional Retirement Program
University of North Carolina 403(b) Plan
University of North Carolina 457(b) Plan

Investment overview

View all investments
Research and performance

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The custom approach to investing

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RetirePlus Pro

TIAA RetirePlus Pro® model portfolios:
Provide an easy alternative to choosing your own investment option

Simple to use
Diversified mix of investments

Allow you to personalize the selection of an investment strategy for your retirement plan account(s) by indicating your projected retirement age and answering a few questions about your investing style.

May have annual fees associated with participation. Please see the disclosure document or model fact sheet for fees which may be applicable to investing in a model.

Available model portfolios for

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Choose your plan and enroll today

Select a retirement plan and begin the enrollment process. Contact your HR Benefits Office for additional information and assistance.

As a UNC employee, you must enroll in either The University of North Carolina Optional Retirement Program (ORP) or the Teachers’ and State Employees’ Retirement System (TSERS) within your first 30 days from hire. If you are enrolled in TSERS, you are not able to enroll in the ORP. If you did not initially elect the UNC ORP Plan and are currently participating in the TSERS plan, you may not transfer/rollover funds to the UNC ORP Plan.

If you are enrolling in the ORP, you are required to log in to the Empyrean system to elect the ORP. This step is not applicable for UNC Health employees, reach out to your HR Benefits Office if you have questions.

Watch this mandatory plan video or use the UNC Plan Compare Calculator to help you make an informed decision on the University of North Carolina Optional Retirement Program (ORP) or the Teachers’ and State Employees’ Retirement System (TSERS).

Beginning March 1, 2026, you will make UNC System 403(b) Plan salary reduction and/or UNC System 457(b) Plan salary deferral elections online on the UNC Empyrean (COMPASS) platform. Please contact your University Benefits Administrator if you have questions on completing the election form(s) for the UNC supplemental retirement plans through the Empyrean platform.

Need help understanding how the 403(b) and 457(b) plans can help you save for retirement, watch this supplemental plan video.

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University of North Carolina 403(b) Plan
To make salary deferral elections for the UNC System 403(b) Plan and/or the UNC System 457(b) Plan, go online to the UNC Empyrean (COMPASS) platform.
University of North Carolina 457(b) Plan
To make salary deferral elections for the UNC System 403(b) Plan and/or the UNC System 457(b) Plan, go online to the UNC Empyrean (COMPASS) platform.
The University of North Carolina Optional Retirement Program
To make salary deferral elections for the UNC System 403(b) Plan and/or the UNC System 457(b) Plan, go online to the UNC Empyrean (COMPASS) platform.

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Any guarantees under annuities issued by TIAA are subject to TIAA's claims-paying ability. TIAA Traditional is a guaranteed insurance contract and not an investment for federal securities law purposes.

Investment, insurance and annuity products are not FDIC insured, are not bank guaranteed, are not deposits, are not insured by any federal government agency, are not a condition to any banking service or activity, and may lose value.

*Investment advice is available through TIAA using an advice methodology from Morningstar Investment Management, LLC.

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.

Annuity contracts and certificates are issued by Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America (TIAA) and College Retirement Equities Fund (CREF), New York, NY. Each is solely responsible for its own financial condition and contractual obligations.

The TIAA group of companies does not provide legal or tax advice. Please consult your legal or tax advisor.

TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC, Member FINRA, distributes securities products. Annuity contracts and certificates are issued by Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America (TIAA) and College Retirement Equities Fund (CREF), New York, NY. Each of the foregoing is solely responsible for its own financial condition and contractual obligations.

Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America is domiciled in New York, NY, with its principal place of business in New York, NY. Its California Certificate of Authority number is 3092.

TIAA-CREF Life Insurance Company is domiciled in New York, NY with its principal place of business in New York, NY. Its California Certificate of Authority number is 6992.