Awards & Rankings
At TIAA-CREF, we measure our ultimate success on the distinctiveness of the service we offer our participants and the institutions we serve. So we’re proud to receive recognition for our efforts by organizations that objectively evaluate our industry.
Our Company
TIAA is one of only three insurance groups in the United States to hold the highest ratings currently awarded from all four leading independent insurance industry ratings agencies.1
Moody’s; S&P; Fitch; A.M. Best
13 Best-in-class Awards for participants and plan sponsors
TIAA-CREF ranked in the top quartile in categories including:
- Retirement services
- Educational programs
- Communications materials
- Enrollment assistance for participants
- Plans sponsor services
- Responsiveness
- Regulatory updates
Plan Sponsor Magazine (Annual Defined Contribution Survey - 2009)
Service Provider Excellence Award
American Society of Pension Professionals & Actuaries (2010)
Top 50 Most Socially-Responsible companies in the U.S.
Reputation Institute and Boston College’s Center for Corporate Citizenship (2008)
Ranked 3rd (out of 39 mutual fund firms) in overall customer loyalty
Cogent Research (2010)
Highest average retirement account balances2
LIMRA (Life Insurance and Market Research Association - 2010)
Our Products & Services
Gold Education Programs Award for Advice Plan Communications
Profit Sharing/401k Council of America (2010)
5 STAR Awards for Excellence in Education and Communication for shareholders, advisors and the investing public
Mutual Fund Education Alliance (2010)
TIAA-CREF Growth & Income Fund, Institutional Class earned Lipper Fund Award for five-year consistent return3
Lipper (2008, 2010)
TIAA-CREF Bond Fund recognized as one of Biggest and Best Bond Funds4
Kiplinger (2010)
Among Top 20 firms offering Unified Managed Accounts
Cerulli Associates (2010)5
Excellence in Defined Contribution Statements
Dalbar (2009)
Diversity & Inclusion
Silver Language and Cultural Diversity Award for TIAA-CREF's U.S. Hispanic/Latino initiative and partnership with Rice University
Profit Sharing/401k Council of America (2010)
40 Best Companies for Diversity
Black Enterprise (2007, 2008, 2009)
Diversity Trailblazer Award
The Diversity Forum (2009)
Employer of Choice
Minority Corporate Council Association (2008)
50 Best Companies for Latinas to Work
LATINA Style Magazine (2010)
100% rating for support of LGBT employees
The Human Rights Campaign Foundation (2010, 2011)
100 Best Companies for Working Mothers
Working Mother (1996, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2011)
1 For its stability, claims-paying ability and overall financial strength, TIAA currently holds the following ratings: A.M. Best (A++ as of 7/11), Fitch (AAA as of 2/12), Moody's Investors Service (Aaa as of 12/11) and Standard & Poor's (AA+ as of 8/11). Per S&P criteria, the downgrade of US long-term government debt limits the highest rating of U.S. insurers to AA+ (the second highest rating available).There is no guarantee that current ratings will be maintained. Ratings represent a company’s ability to meet policyholders’ obligations and claims and do not apply to variable annuities, mutual funds or any other product or service not fully backed by TIAA's claims-paying ability.
2 LIMRA, Not-for-Profit Market Survey, first-quarter 2010 results. Average assets per participant based on full-service business. Please note average retirement account balances are not a measure of performance of TIAA-CREF retirement offerings.
3 The Lipper Fund Award is presented to the highest Lipper Leader for Consistent Return (Effective Return) within each eligible classification over three, five, or ten years. Lipper Ratings for Consitsent Return reflect funds’ historical risk-adjusted returns, adjusted for volatility, relative to peers (634 funds total in the category). Ratings are subject to change and current performance may be higher or lower than indicated. Past performance is not indicative of future returns.
4 The Kiplinger listing included 125 of the largest taxable bond funds that have been in existence for at least one year and require $25,000 or less to open an account.
5 TIAA-CREF Unified Managed Account was ranked in the top 20 of Unified Managed Account programs from a universe of 22 firms based on total assets under management.
TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC and Teachers Personal Investors Services, Inc., members FINRA, distribute securities products. Annuity contracts and certificates are issued by Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association (TIAA) and College Retirement Equities Fund (CREF), New York, NY.
