TIAA-CREF - MAX Microsites

Find out more about the retirement plans available at {{SD:SubsidiaryName}}

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Find out more about important changes to the investment options offered under the plans

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TIAA-CREF has partnered with {{SD:SubsidiaryName}} to help you prepare for your retirement. For more almost 90 years, we have been helping millions of people in the academic, medical, research and cultural fields plan for retirement. We offer you options to tailor your plan to your investment style and goals.

TIAA-CREF is pleased to help the employees of {{SD:SubsidiaryName}} plan for retirement. For more almost 90 years, we have been helping millions of people in the academic, medical, research and cultural fields plan for retirement. We offer you options to tailor your plan to your investment style and goals.

Life can be complicated, but planning for retirement doesn't have to be. To help you plan for your goals, we offer:

Sound guidance. Speak with a TIAA-CREF Consultant for answers that make sense for you.
Retirement choices that suit your style.

A simplified "one decision" strategy. You pick one from a series of new Lifecycle Funds targeted to your expected year of retirement.

A "Build your own portfolio" strategy. You create your own long-term portfolio from a wide range of investment choices. You can refer to sample portfolios showing various risk tolerance levels.

Low cost. TIAA-CREF is committed to keeping costs low, with expenses that are among the lowest in the variable annuity and mutual funds industries¹.

Top ratings. For its stability, sound investments, claims-paying ability, and overall financial strength, TIAA is one of only four companies to hold top ratings from the four leading insurance ratings agencies: A.M. Best Co. (6/2006), Fitch (3/2006), Moody's Investors Service (3/2006) and Standard & Poor's (6/2006). Ratings apply to TIAA Traditional only, not to CREF and TIAA Real Estate Accounts. The ratings do not apply to the performance and safety of the variable accounts.

If you are new to the {{SD:SubsidiaryName}} Retirement Plans, you must first enroll to take advantage of these investment strategies.

If you are a current participant in the plan, check out our investment choices to see the new funds available to you.

If you are a current participant in one or more of the plans, check out our investment choices to see the new funds available to you.

¹ Source: Morningstar Datalab^TM Charting Tool Report Peer Group Analysis [February 2005] based on Morningstar expense comparisons by category.

C36413

Retirement Annuity (RA) Contract Form Series 1000.24
Group Retirement Annuity (GRA) Contract Form Series G-1000.4 and G-1000.5
Supplemental Retirement Annuity (SRA) Contract Form Series 1200.8
Group Supplemental Retirement Annuity (GSRA) Contract Form Series 1250.01 (not available in all states)
Group Annuity (GA) Contract Form Series 6008.8
Retirement Choice Annuity contract IGRS-01-84.
Retirement Choice Annuity certificate IGRS-CERT1-84.

There are many things you need to know about the {{PD:PlanMarketingName}} including eligibility requirements, vesting schedules, and loan features. Select any of the links on the right to learn more.

Select from the retirement plans listed at the right to learn more about those that are available to you.

There are many things you need to know about the {{PD:PlanMarketingName}} including eligibility requirements, vesting schedules, and loan features. Select any of the links on the right to learn more.

If you have further questions, contact your institution.

To obtain eligibility information regarding this plan, contact your institution.

You are eligible to participate immediately in this plan.

To obtain eligibility information regarding this plan, contact your institution.

To obtain contribution information regarding this plan, contact your institution.

This plan allows only employer contributions.

This plan allows only employee contributions.

This plan allows you to make contributions in addition to those made by {{SD:SubsidiaryName}}.

You may contribute the maximum amount permissible to both the 457(b) and your {{PD:PlanMarketingName}}. If your employer offers more than one plan for making employee contributions, you may increase the amount you save on a tax-deferred basis.

For more information about the employer match provisions under this plan contact your institution.

{{SD:SubsidiaryName}} will match ${{PD:EMPLOYER_MATCH_AMT}} of your contribution to the plan each year.

{{SD:SubsidiaryName}} will match up to {{PD:EMPLOYER_MATCH_PCT}}% of your contribution to the plan each year.

{{SD:SubsidiaryName}} will match your contributions according to the following schedule:

{{SD:SubsidiaryName}} does not make matching contributions with this plan.

For more information about the vesting schedule for this plan, contact your institution.

"Vesting" refers to employees' right, usually earned over time, to receive some retirement benefits regardless of whether or not they remain with the employer. Your contribution to this account will be 100% vested immediately.

"Vesting" refers to employees' right, usually earned over time, to receive some retirement benefits regardless of whether or not they remain with the employer. You will be vested in the employer contributions according to the following schedule:

After {{VESTING_SCHED_YRS}} years you are {{VESTING_SCHED_PCT}}% vested

{{SD:SubsidiaryName}} offers you a variety of investment choices from an array of asset classes, which can help you diversify your retirement portfolio.

Expenses vary from investment to investment. To learn more about these expenses, go to the Investment Choices page, select an asset class, and then click on the name of the investment you would like to learn more about.

For more information about the distribution options available to you, contact your institution.

When it's time to decide how to take income from your {{PD:PlanMarketingName}}, you have a variety of options*:

59½ in Service - You generally can withdraw funds, attributable to elective deferrals, from your account while still employed once you have reached age 59½.The amount you can withdraw is subject to your plan's rules.

90-24 Transfer - You can directly transfer your 403(b) funds from one approved financial provider to another under your employer's retirement plan, or to another 403(b) annuity contract or mutual fund under another plan, as your plan and contract permit. This transfer is not considered a taxable distribution.

Disability - As permitted by your plan, 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.

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.

Hardship Distribution - If your plan permits, you can withdraw your elective deferrals (but not earnings) due to financial hardship while still employed. Generally, you must show an immediate, significant need that cannot be met with other resources, including loans from your retirement plan.

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. (Note: These payments are generally available to individuals between ages 55 and 70½ when minimum distributions are required.)

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 if you (one-life annuity) or both you and your annuity partner (two-life annuity) die before the end of the guaranteed period for the remainder of the guaranteed period.

Limited Periodic Option - If you're over age 55, you can withdraw as cash up to 7% of your holdings in the CREF and TIAA Real Estate accounts (currently available only in plans funded with TIAA-CREF group retirement annuity [GRA] contracts that don't allow CREF cash).

Lump Sum - 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 10 annual payments under those terms).

Minimum Distribution Option - Generally, you must begin taking minimum withdrawals from your account by April 1 following the year in which you turn age 70½ or retire, whichever is later. This can help you defer the minimum required distribution while keeping you in compliance with federal regulations.

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," such as attainment of age 59 ½, to qualify.

Retirement Loan - Some retirement plans allow you to borrow funds from your account. Generally, under the Internal Revenue Code the maximum loan allowed from all your employer's plans is up to $50,000 or 50% of your vested accumulation, whichever is less. (This may be further limited by the terms of your contract.) Borrowing funds from your retirement plan is a nontaxable event as long as you repay your loan in full.

Rollover - 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.

Retirement Transition Benefit - If your contract allows, you can withdraw, in cash, up to 10% of your accumulation at the beginning of a conversion to lifetime annuity income. The amount you withdraw will reduce your lifetime annuity income accordingly.

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

Small-Sum Distribution - If your plan doesn't otherwise allow cash distributions, upon separation from service 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 (typically $4,000). If your plan does allow cash distributions, upon separation you may be able to withdraw your TIAA Traditional accumulation if the value does not exceed $2,000.

Systematic Withdrawals - If your plan allows, you can choose to receive regular income payments (minimum $100) on a semimonthly, monthly, quarterly, semiannual or annual basis. You can increase, decrease or suspend the payments at any time. (Note: These withdrawals are not available from TIAA Traditional Account balances.)

TPA to Cash - If your plan allows, you can withdraw your TIAA Traditional Account accumulation through a Transfer Payout Annuity (TPA) in 10 approximately equal annual payments. A lump-sum payment, subject to a surrender fee, may be available depending on your plan rules and the terms of your contract.

* The availability of certain distributions may depend on the type of contract underlying your plan. Also, if you're married, your right to choose an option may be subject to your spouses right to survivor benefits.

Your {{PD:PlanMarketingName}} is designed to provide you with income throughout your retirement. Leaving money in your account may allow the funds to grow on a tax-deferred basis.

The {{PD:PlanMarketingName}} allows you to receive a cash withdrawal. This may be restricted by the terms of your TIAA-CREF contracts Taxes and penalties may apply.

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.

Contact your HR Office for more information

Retirement plan contributions are usually made with before-tax dollars so Federal income taxes are deferred until you begin taking withdrawals later on.

No taxes are due on pre-tax contributions and earnings made until the money is withdrawn, but because these plans are intended primarily for retirement, you can generally withdraw funds only after termination of employment or age 59 ½ (subject to plan rules). If you withdraw funds before age 59 ½, they may be subject to an additional 10% early-withdrawal penalty.

In limited instances when you are making contributions to your retirement plan with after-tax dollars, you will not have to pay income tax on your principal. However, when monies are withdrawn, taxes may be applicable to any earnings and interest accrued.

For additional information and guidance, contact your tax advisor.

Because you make contributions with pre-tax dollars, Federal income taxes are deferred on supplemental plans until you begin taking withdrawals later on.

No taxes are due on contributions and earnings until the money is withdrawn, but because these plans are intended primarily for retirement, you can generally withdraw funds only after termination of employment or age 59 ½ (subject to plan rules). If you withdraw funds before age 59 ½, they may be subject to an additional 10% early-withdrawal penalty.

For additional information and guidance, contact your tax advisor.

Because you make contributions with pre-tax dollars, Federal income taxes are deferred on supplemental plans until you begin taking withdrawals later on.

No taxes are due on contributions and earnings until the money is withdrawn, but because these plans are intended primarily for retirement, you can generally withdraw funds only after termination of employment (subject to plan rules).

For additional information and guidance, contact your tax advisor.

To obtain loan information regarding this plan, contact your institution.

Loans are available from a minimum of $1,000 to a maximum of $50,000 from each employer. How much you can borrow depends on the amount you currently have in the plan and whether you have other outstanding loans. If you have accumulations in other employer's plans, you may be able to transfer or roll them over to the {{PD:PlanMarketingName}} to increase your maximum loan amount if {{PD:PlanMarketingName}} accepts rollovers.

{{PD:PlanMarketingName}} does not offer a loan feature for this plan.

A broad array of investment choices

At TIAA-CREF, we believe in investment strategies that can help our investors prepare for their retirement.

In keeping with our long-term investment philosophy and commitment to you, we have consistently pursued a policy of managing risk through diversification. We believe this is essential in helping you work toward achieving your ultimate financial and savings goals.

Over many years, this practice has proved successful through market fluctuations, changing economic trends and technological innovation. Note that diversification is no guarantee of protection against loss.

Your {{PD:PlanMarketingName}} offers an array of investment options across a broad range of categories. Refer to the asset class heading at right.

At TIAA-CREF, we believe in investment strategies that can help our investors to prepare for their retirement.

In keeping with our long-term investment philosophy and commitment to you, we have consistently pursued a policy of managing risk through diversification. We believe this is essential in helping you work toward achieving your ultimate financial and savings goals.

Over many years, this practice has proved successful through market fluctuations, changing economic trends and technological innovation. Note that diversification is no guarantee of protection against loss.

Refer to the plans to the right to learn more about the asset classes available for each plan. Since each plan offers a different fund lineup, it is important that you review each plan and its investment options carefully.

At TIAA-CREF, we believe in investment strategies that can help our investors prepare for their retirement.

In keeping with our long-term investment philosophy and commitment to you, we have consistently pursued a policy of managing risk through diversification. We believe this is essential in helping you work toward achieving your ultimate financial and savings goals.

Over many years, this practice has proved successful through market fluctuations, changing economic trends and technological innovation. Note that diversification is no guarantee of protection against loss.

Your {{PD:SubsidiaryName}} retirement plans offer an array of investment options across a broad range of categories. Refer to the asset classes listed at right to find out more about your available choices.

Your {{PD:PlanMarketingName}} offers an array of investment options across a broad range of categories. Refer to the asset class heading(s) listed on the right to find out more about your available allocation choices.

Equities (stocks), which represent shares of ownership in companies, have historically outperformed other investments over long periods. They have also tended to be the most volatile in the short term, which means investors may experience fluctuating account values. (Past performance does not guarantee future results.)

Annuity account options are available through contracts issued by TIAA or CREF. These contracts are designed for retirement or other long-term goals and they offer a variety of income options, including lifetime income. Payments from the variable annuity accounts and mutual funds are not guaranteed and will rise or fall based on investment performance. Mutual funds do not offer the range of income options available through annuities.

Variable Annuities

Direct investment in real estate can be a good diversification tool for a retirement portfolio, providing low correlation with other asset classes, a hedge against inflation and long-term growth potential. Typically, real estate performance does not closely correspond to that of stocks and bonds, and has shown less volatility over time, marking it as a distinct asset class. Please note that real estate securities do have additional volatility. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.

Variable Annuities

Annuity account options are available through contracts issued by TIAA or CREF. These contracts are designed for retirement or other long-term goals and they offer a variety of income options, including lifetime income. Payments from the variable annuity accounts and mutual funds are not guaranteed and will rise or fall based on investment performance. Mutual funds do not offer the range of income options available through annuities.

This category includes bonds and securities that are designed to pay a rate of interest over a set time period and then return the investor's principal. The value of fixed-income investments fluctuates in response to interest and inflation rates.

There are different ways to invest in bonds; traditional bonds are generally debt instruments of different companies and government agencies. Returns will vary based on interest income and price changes in the bond market.

With inflation-linked securities, the interest payments tend to rise during periods of accelerating inflation, making them a good choice for more conservative investors. However, neither traditional nor inflation-linked bonds are insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) or any other U.S. government agency.

Annuity account options are available through contracts issued by TIAA or CREF. These contracts are designed for retirement or other long-term goals and they offer a variety of income options, including lifetime income. Payments from the variable annuity accounts and mutual funds are not guaranteed and will rise or fall based on investment performance. Mutual funds do not offer the range of income options available through annuities.

Variable Annuities

Collective Funds

This asset class consists of short-term debt instruments and government securities which carry little risk. They generally pay more interest than savings accounts or CDs, but historically their returns have been lower than those of stocks and bonds. Keep in mind that an investment in a money market fund or annuity account is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) or any other government agency and that it is possible to lose money with these investments. Although the Fund seeks to preserve the value of your investment at $1.00 per share, it is possible to lose money by investing in the Fund.

Variable Annuities

Offerings within the Guaranteed asset class guarantee your principal and a minimum interest rate, subject to the claims-paying ability of the insurer.

Included in this category are multi-asset investments that can help you prepare for your retirement, conform to your risk-tolerance level and help you allocate investment assets in a socially responsible way.

TIAA-CREF Lifecycle Funds are "funds of funds" that seek high total return over time through a combination of capital appreciation and income. The funds invest in underlying mutual funds according to an asset-allocation strategy designed for investors planning to retire in - or within a few years of - the fund's target year. Each fund's allocation gradually will become more conservative, until the mix of equity and non-equity securities reaches approximately 35% equities/65% non-equities by each fund's specific target year.
Lifecycle Funds offer:

"One Decision" retirement strategy: Just select the fund that's closest to your expected year of retirement.
Built-in Rebalancing: Each fund's investments automatically adjust from a more aggressive, higher risk to a more conservative, lower risk allocation as the target retirement date approaches.
A managed, diversified portfolio: Each Lifecycle Fund provides a ready-made diversified portfolio using TIAA-CREF mutual funds as underlying investments that include both equity and fixed-income instruments.

You can choose from among the following TIAA-CREF Lifecycle Funds:

Socially Responsible Investing

If you're interested in socially responsible investing, your investment choices include an annuity account that is diversified among stocks and bonds and could be used as a "single choice" option.
If you need help making the choice that's best for you, call 800 842-2776 to speak to one of our consultants. However, socially responsible investments may not allow you to take advantage of certain opportunities or market trends if they are excluded because of social criteria.

TIAA-CREF Brokerage Services* is designed to bring simplicity, flexibility and choice to your investing life.

TIAA-CREF Brokerage Services brings the investment world right to you. You'll have everything you need to build and manage a portfolio based upon your needs. Trade among:

Thousands of mutual funds from the nation's best-known fund families, many of which are no load and have no transaction fees
TIAA-CREF's family of low-cost mutual funds

A TIAA-CREF Brokerage Services account offers superior service at a competitive price you'd expect from TIAA-CREF. We've designed our brokerage account to help simplify your finances so you can focus on your goals. You'll also find many useful tools to help make informed investment decisions, including:

Online trading
Cash management with a Cash Solutions Account (minimum $25,000)
Mutual Funds screeners, company reports, industry news and more

You can simplify your financial life by rolling over retirement assets from previous employer sponsored retirement plans or other IRAs into a TIAA-CREF Brokerage IRA. Consolidating your retirement accounts may also give you access to a wider variety of investments. Preserve the tax-deferred status of your assets and enjoy the convenience of having your retirement portfolio in a single — and trusted — place.

Call us toll-free at 800 842-2776, then press *8 to speak directly to a TIAA-CREF Individual Consultant who specializes in Brokerage Services. You can also visit us online.

Note that there are brokerage charges associated with this account. Certain securities may not be suitable for all investors. There are inherent risks in investing in securities. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate so an investor's shares, when redeemed, likely will be worth more or less than the original cost.

*TIAA-CREF Brokerage Services is a division of TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC. Member NASD/SIPC.

TIAA-CREF is pleased to have become the sole vendor at {{SD:SubsidiaryName}}. To learn more about this change in retirement vendors could affect you, select the link below:

{{SD:SubsidiaryName}}

Whether you are just starting to invest in your future or already participate in a retirement plan, setting up your own plan allocations involves some important decisions.

Our consultants can explain how the plan works, the choices you have, and how to set up a portfolio that will help you meet your retirement needs.

You also might find it helpful to read about how to Build Your Own Portfolio.

Whether you are just starting to invest in your future or already participate in a retirement plan, setting up your own plan allocations involves some important decisions.

If you like to keep things simple and would feel most comfortable knowing that professional managers are automatically adjusting your portfolio to keep it on track with your retirement time horizon, then a TIAA-CREF Lifecycle Fund may be right for you. Funds are available for target retirement years 2010 through 2040 in five-year increments. All you need to do is pick a single Lifecycle Fund that's closest to your estimated year of retirement.

Each fund's investments automatically adjust from a more aggressive to a more conservative allocation as the target retirement date approaches. Each Lifecycle Fund provides a ready-made diversified portfolio using TIAA-CREF mutual funds as underlying investments, which include stocks and fixed income. Please keep in mind that Lifecycle Funds share the risks associated with their underlying investments. Be sure to review the prospectus before investing.

If you prefer to develop your own portfolio by choosing among investment options in different asset classes to match your time horizon and risk tolerance, you may want to Build Your Own Portfolio.

If you are not sure which strategy is right for you, consider using the suggested guidelines set up by TIAA-CREF to help simplify the process. We recommend that you start by asking yourself which investing strategy is right for you.

Central to our commitment to you is to help you plan effectively for retirement with skilled TIAA-CREF Consultants. Additionally, we are expanding our services by offering personalized advice on the investment choices on our platform, including those from other companies.

Highlights include:

Personalized Portfolio Recommendations, proposing specific mutual funds and annuity accounts considering every retirement plan option on TIAA-CREF's recordkeeping systems.
Guidance on Past Plans, suggesting portfolios of broad asset classes on any assets in previous employers' retirement plans on TIAA-CREF's recordkeeping systems.
A Retirement Strategy Review that can take into account the full range of your retirement assets and present models that assess the likelihood of reaching income goals. The financial and economic assumptions underlying the projections are based on historical rates of return that may not reoccur, as well as volatility measures and other factors.

The advice is provided in one-on-one sessions, in person or on the phone, to ensure the highest level of service and immediate attention to your needs.

The portfolio recommendations, projections and other information we provide you are generated by an analytic tool from Ibbotson Associates, a company noted for its integrity and the soundness of its methodology. First, the tool estimates your chances of achieving your retirement income goal. If changes are warranted, the tool will recommend an increased savings rate; a revised retirement plan investment portfolio based on your age, retirement plan savings rate, current investment selections and outside investments; or both. Investment recommendations start by defining an appropriate mix of asset classes. Projections of potential returns for each asset class reflect aspects of historical performance, including a real risk-free rate, an estimate of future inflation and a "risk premium" (the additional potential return from taking on additional risk). From there, the tool then recommends specific funds available to you through your plan.

As with any projection, the outcomes shown are hypothetical, do not reflect actual investment returns and do not guarantee future results. Recommendations for younger clients with a longer savings time horizons generally have higher amounts of portfolio risk. The results may vary with each use over time.

Call TIAA-CREF AT 800 842-2776 to schedule an appointment.
After the session you'll receive a detailed report showing the key information driving your results, the investment and savings strategies Ibbotson recommends, and actions you can take that could help keep your retirement on track. While the advice can take all of your retirement assets into account, the service only provides specific portfolio recommendations on assets within TIAA-CREF's recordkeeping systems.

Advice and Planning Services offers retirement planning services and is a Registered Investment Advisor and a division of TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC, a registered broker/dealer, member NASD/SIPC.

OBJECTIVE SUPPORT FROM AN INDEPENDENT RESOURCE

As a TIAA-CREF participant in your institution's retirement plan, you are eligible for personalized, independent retirement planning guidance, at no additional cost. It's your opportunity to get specific, objective guidance for developing a plan to pursue your retirement income goal, or to find out if your current retirement planning strategy is on the right track.

Through a candid, confidential conversation, a TIAA-CREF consultant will get to know more about you and your total retirement savings picture.

Next, the consultant will use sophisticated planning tools from Ibbotson Associates, one of the world's most respected independent financial services, to create a detailed report that:

assesses your current strategy in light of your retirement goals; and
offers retirement investment guidance to enhance your strategy (or, if you're just starting out, a plan that makes sense for you), which you can put into action right now.

What's Available

Objective Investment Guidance
You can get personalized retirement plan portfolio suggestions including some or all of the following asset classes:
- Equities (Stocks)
- Fixed-Income
- Guaranteed
- Cash
- Real Estate
Your suggested portfolio is based on your retirement goals and expected retirement date, and can take into account all of your retirement assets to help maintain an overall balance between risk and opportunity. In addition to your current retirement plan, you can get guidance on all of your current and past plans on TIAA-CREF's recordkeeping system.
Portfolio Development Assistance
We can identify the specific accounts that fall into the asset classes in your suggested portfolio to enable you to make your decisions about which options may best fit your needs.
A review of potential outcomes
Ibbotson's guidance tool assesses the probability of meeting your goals with current savings strategies, and recommends a savings rate that may help you meet your goal. You can also adjust some of the factors to help you explore the effects of different savings rates, retirement dates and other factors. (The financial and economic assumptions underlying these projections are based on historical rates of return that may not reoccur, as well as volatility measures and other factors.)

Your Enhanced Guidance Report

Within a week of your consultation, you'll receive a personalized report that provides valuable information based on the information you provided. The report will show your suggested retirement plan portfolio as well as a comparison between your current retirement strategy and a proposed strategy. Although no strategy is guaranteed, such a comparison can help you consider whether you are saving enough to reach your income goals. If not, the report will tell you how much more you might need to save.

Ibbotson Associates is a leading provider of investment and planning services known for its independence, experience in portfolio analysis, sound business practices, and expertise in software development.

How to Get Started

Call TIAA-CREF at 800 842-2776 to schedule an appointment.

Plan to bring statements showing current accumulations in non-TIAA-CREF retirement plans, IRAs and other plans, including Social Security. And if you're married, you may want to bring information on your spouse's retirement assets.

Before your session, your TIAA-CREF consultant will ask you to complete a suitability questionnaire to make sure the guidance we provide fits your needs and situation. In addition to basic personal information, the survey will cover topics like your income and investments and your anticipated retirement goals.

We look forward to helping you make educated decisions about your retirement planning and investments.

Note: The portfolio recommendations, projections and other information we provide you are generated by an analytic tool from Ibbotson Associates, a company noted for its integrity and the soundness of its methodology.

First, the tool estimates your chances of achieving your retirement income goal. Then, if changes are warranted, the tool will recommend:

an increased savings rate;
a revised retirement plan investment portfolio based on your age, retirement plan savings rate, current investment selections and outside investments;
or both.

Investment recommendations define an appropriate mix of asset classes. Projections of potential returns for each asset class reflect aspects of historical performance, including a real risk-free rate, an estimate of future inflation and a "risk premium" (the additional potential return from taking on additional risk).

As with any projection, the outcomes shown are hypothetical, do not reflect actual investment returns and do not guarantee future results. Recommendations for younger clients with a longer savings time horizons generally have higher amounts of portfolio risk. The results may vary with each use over time.

TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC provides advisory services and distributes securities products.

Having a retirement portfolio that's right for you begins with making a basic decision: How much involvement do you want to have in building your portfolio?

Which of the following hypothetical investors sounds most like you?

"When it comes to saving for retirement, I believe in keeping it simple. I'm not a financial wiz and don't have the time or interest to become one. As long as I know my portfolio is in expert hands, I'd rather not worry about it myself. I'm more comfortable knowing that professional managers will keep my portfolio on track and rebalance my assets in keeping with my time horizon or portfolio goals."

"I enjoy learning about investing and try to stay on top of how economic trends are affecting my nest egg. Keeping an eye on my portfolio's asset allocation gives me the kind of hands-on control I want. As my life situation and market conditions change, I like making any necessary adjustments to my investment mix myself."

If you identified with Investor A:
A simplified "one decision" strategy could be a good fit for you.

If you are more like Investor B:
You are likely to prefer the "build your own portfolio" strategy.

In either case, we encourage you to contact one of our consultants, who can explain how the plan works, the choices you have, and how to set up a portfolio that will help you meet your investment needs.

Why Choose a Lifecycle Fund?

If you lack the time or experience to research all of your retirement plan's account options, a TIAA-CREF Lifecycle Fund may be right for you. Lifecycle Funds offer a way to make a single choice for your retirement investments based on your expected year of retirement.

How Do Lifecycle Funds Work?

Lifecycle Funds provide a ready-made portfolio of funds using TIAA-CREF mutual funds as underlying investments with exposure to different investment choices, including stocks, bonds and real estate investments. Please keep in mind that Lifecycle Funds share the risks associated with their underlying investments. Be sure to review the prospectus before investing.

Each Lifecycle Fund starts with investment mixes generally considered appropriate for investors at different stages of retirement planning, with the goal of achieving the highest possible returns while minimizing potential risks. (Keep in mind that there is no guarantee that this objective will be met.) Then, the funds adjust periodically to maintain an appropriate asset allocation for the remaining time horizon.

What Are the Main Benefits?

With a TIAA-CREF Lifecycle Fund, you enjoy broad portfolio diversification and ongoing professional management - without the need to make complicated investment, portfolio reallocation and adjustment decisions as your time horizon changes.

Select the Lifecycle Fund Closest to Your Estimated Year of Retirement.

Now all you need do is select the fund that is the closest to your estimated year of retirement, using the chart below as a guide. Lifecycle Funds are available for target retirement years of 2010 through 2040 in five-year increments.

Building your own portfolio allows you to tailor your investments to meet your specific needs and goals. It enables you to have a high level of involvement in your own financial retirement planning.

Before starting out, however, it would be to your advantage to learn the basics of investing - or review them if you already have some investment knowledge.

The way you choose your investment mix is the foundation of your portfolio's performance. The goal of asset allocation is to create the most efficient mix of investments or asset classes that have the potential to appreciate while meeting your tolerance for risk or market volatility. What you want to do is combine asset classes that tend to perform differently from one another under certain market conditions. How you divide your money among broad asset classes is often more important than the choice of specific investments within those classes.

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The key to smart asset allocation - and one of the best ways to manage risk - is to diversify, or "spread the risk" over a variety of investments. Since different types of investments may perform better than others at different times, diversification can help you offset the volatility (and potential losses) of a single investment and take greater advantage of the strengths of several asset classes working together.

To ensure adequate diversification, most investment experts recommend that you include at least three asset classes in your long-term portfolio. Diversifying does not guarantee that you won't lose money, but it can keep you from being overexposed to a major downturn in one type of investment. How much you allocate to each of the asset classes (and the investment options within those classes) will depend on your particular goals and preferences. Of course, diversification is no guarantee against losses.

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At the cornerstone of any savings or investment plan is the relationship between risk and return. As a rule, the potential return on any investment corresponds to its level of risk.

Most experts agree that you shouldn't take too much risk with your pension accumulation. On the other hand, you may want to assume enough risk to build the assets to finance the retirement you want. Maintaining that delicate balance is the challenge of successful asset allocation.

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When it comes to retirement, your investment perspective should always be long term, because your actual time horizon should extend far beyond the day you actually retire. To keep pace with inflation, your money will have to keep working even after you stop, so you'll need to maintain some growth potential even when you've begun making withdrawals.

How can a long-term perspective affect your allocation decision? If you're just getting started with your retirement savings, you have a longer time horizon to absorb and recover from the ups and downs of the markets. So you may want to consider allocating a greater percentage of your contributions to stocks, which have historically offered greater potential for growth than other options. Past performance, of course, does not guarantee future results.

As you approach retirement, you may be less willing to take risks within your retirement portfolio. Many people move accumulated funds to more conservative accounts at this stage.

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It's important to coordinate the decisions you make about your TIAA-CREF retirement plan allocations with any other assets you're likely to have during retirement (such as Social Security benefits, defined benefit plans or IRAs). All of these savings will need to work together to produce the retirement income you're looking for.

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As we've mentioned, it's a good idea to revisit your investment mix periodically, as your goals, investment time horizon and personal situation change.

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Consolidating your retirement accounts can make your asset allocation strategy a bit easier to evaluate and adjust, because you can view the "big picture" of how your retirement assets are invested through one consolidated statement. Be sure to check the terms of your existing investment. Certain surrender and other charges may apply.

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To launch the interactive Investor Profile Worksheet, select a plan below.

Select the plan for which you would like to see model portfolios.

Since the plans available to you offer different fund line-ups, it is important to review the model portfolios for each plan since different asset classes will be represented depending on the plan selected.

The model portfolios presented here were not created specifically for you and may not take into account your particular retirement goals or investment preferences. The ultimate allocation decision is up to you after you have considered investment information that pertains to your own personal circumstances.

There are inherent risks to investing in securities products. However, the investment risks that apply to all of the model portfolios generally increase as the portfolios become more aggressive. Therefore, participants who are approaching retirement (e.g., who expect to retire within the next 10 years), or those who lack substantial retirement assets outside this plan, may want to take a more conservative approach.

Each of our model portfolios provides a model asset allocation mix that corresponds to a specific investment strategy based on tolerance for risk. However, there are essentially two different ways to evaluate how much risk you want to take:

One is to understand the psychological impact of risk whether or not you'll be able to tolerate the potential ups and downs that may be associated with certain types of investments.
The second consideration is your actual risk capacity, or your ability to weather the potential fluctuations associated with market volatility, based on your own personal circumstances.

For example, a young investor who anticipates continuing to accrue savings for many years to come and who also has other assets to potentially draw from in the future such as Social Security benefits may be able to take a more aggressive stance in order to achieve a retirement income goal compared to the approach of an investor with a shorter time horizon who may be well along the way toward achieving retirement objectives through existing savings.

Understanding how much risk you may need to take in order to achieve your goal and how much risk you'll be able to tolerate is a considerable challenge. For this reason, you may want to contact one of our consultants to review your personal circumstances and evaluate the "bigger picture" of your retirement investing strategy.

If you prefer to create your own investment mix for retirement savings, your plan offers a wide range of choices. Whether you're a first-time investor or a long-time participant, determining the right combination of investments for your retirement plan is not easy.

Our consultants can explain how the plan works, the choices you have, and how to set up a portfolio that can help you meet your investment needs.

We urge you to contact one of our consultants and/or set up a meeting at any time, to get objective retirement planning advice and discuss any questions or concerns you may have.

To learn more about the broad asset classes below, and the individual investments they contain, go to the Investment Options page, where you may view the various fund descriptions and prospectuses.

At TIAA-CREF, we want you to be financially savvy so you can make informed investment decisions.

As your life circumstances change, your financial goals are likely to change as well. Select any of the links on the right for tools, calculators, and publications TIAA-CREF offers. They can help you determine if you're on track towards meeting your financial goals.

To launch the interactive Investor Profile Worksheet, select a plan below.

Will your retirement account be large enough to meet your financial needs when you're ready to stop working? This calculator can show how much of your salary you might need at retirement. It will also calculate how much more you might need to invest to eliminate any shortfall.

Retirement Goal Evaluator

Your Financial Organizer is a take-action tool intended to help you put your finances and budget in order as a first step toward preparing an effective savings strategy. The sooner you start saving, the more time your money will have to work for you.

Your Financial Organizer

Before you invest, look carefully at the associated fees and charges in addition to any product features. Sales, surrender, and transaction costs vary widely from company to company. Even when such fees are low or waived, annual expense charges can make a big difference in your total return over time. You can use this interactive calculator to see just how dramatic the effect can be.

Expense/Growth Calculator

Adjusted Gross Income is used in calculating federal taxes. It appears on the bottom of the first page of your federal income tax return. AGI is determined before itemized deductions are taken, but it subtracts adjustments, such as certain IRA contributions, from gross income.

Adjusted Gross Income

Compute how much you'll need to save to reach a future income goal. The income calculation assumes systematic withdrawals that exhaust your principal and accrued earnings over the specified payout period. If you want a lump-sum distribution rather than income over time, enter "0" in the "Duration" field.

Target Value

Browse TIAA-CREFs Online Publications, where you can view and download publications spanning a variety of topics, including publications about retirement planning, investment education and more.

Q. How do I find my Plan Access Code?

A. Your access code(s) can be found on the Enrollment Page after your date of migration. There is one code per plan.

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Q. What do I do after I've enrolled?

A. After you have enrolled, you will receive a TIAA-CREF Welcome Kit and a Legal Package, which will include your contract and contract number. Review your Welcome Kit carefully as it will contain the information you indicated during the enrollment process - including allocations and beneficiary information.

You will also be able to review your accounts and perform transactions online by using Secure Access.

Q. How do I get help choosing my allocation mix?

A. TIAA-CREF offers a series of financial education seminars through Demo University or at various locations in your local area. You may also be able to meet with a TIAA-CREF investment professional to assess your financial situation.

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Q. What is the difference between a fixed annuity, a variable annuity and a mutual fund?

A. In general, an annuity is a contract by which an insurance company agrees to make regular payments. A fixed annuity guarantees principal and a specified interest rate, and may also offer additional amounts based on the claims-paying ability of the issuing company. A variable annuity does not make any guarantees.

The returns and value of a variable annuity account will fluctuate based on the investment performance of the underlying securities in its portfolio. For the purposes of your retirement plan, the main difference between variable annuities and mutual funds is that a mutual fund cannot be used for receiving income in the same manner as an annuity. However mutual funds offer more focused investment styles than annuities, offering you the ability to choose the funds that correspond closely to your more specific investment objectives.

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Q. Is there an advantage to owning variable annuities over mutual funds?

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

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Q. What are the advantages of owning mutual funds?

A. Many participants enjoy the advantages of owning mutual funds alongside annuity accounts 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.

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Q. Who would benefit most from owning mutual funds?

A. For some participants, being able to invest in accounts that broadly represent their asset classes is an appropriate investment strategy. Others may want to exercise more control over their exposure to different types of investments. Having mutual funds on your fund lineup allows you to fine-tune your portfolio to the extent you wish.

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Q. How can I see my accounts and perform transactions online?

A. You can view your account information, change allocations, and make transfers by visiting Secure Access. You will need a user ID and password to use this portion of our site.

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Q. How do I speak to someone at TIAA-CREF?

A. Call a TIAA-CREF Consultant at 800-842-2776, Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. ET, Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET.

You may also be able to meet with a TIAA-CREF investment professional to assess your financial situation.

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Active Strategy: An investment strategy that seeks to outperform the average returns of the financial markets.

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