About the TIAA-CREF IRA
What makes the TIAA-CREF IRA special?
The TIAA-CREF IRA is uniquely designed to complement your TIAA-CREF workplace plan by allowing you to build savings during your peak earning years, with the option for guaranteed lifetime income1 when you retire.
Our unique advantages: Tax-deferred wealth-building plus the option of guaranteed income for life in retirement.
Not only is a TIAA-CREF IRA a great way to help you build wealth during your earning years, but, as your needs change over time, it also offers a guaranteed lifetime income option — all through one IRA.
In addition, TIAA-CREF IRAs offer a wide array of other retirement income options, so you can be sure there's one that meets your needs.
Honest, objective advice.
Our consultants can help you determine things like which investments are right for your retirement portfolio, if you are contributing enough, and how to adjust your investment mix to help maximize your earning potential. All this comes at no additional cost to you.
Low costs.
TIAA-CREF IRAs come with no fees or maintenance expenses.2 Plus, with our nonprofit heritage, TIAA-CREF keeps operating costs low for its annuities and mutual funds.3 That means more of your money stays working for you.
A virtually unlimited selection of investments.
Your investment menu starts with TIAA-CREF's well-known family of annuity accounts (one guaranteed account and nine variable) and TIAA-CREF mutual funds (including Lifecycle Funds that automatically adjust from a more aggressive to a more conservative allocation as your retirement date nears).4
But it doesn't end there. You also have access to thousands of non-TIAA-CREF mutual funds (many with no loads and no transaction fees), stocks, bonds, FDIC-insured certificates of deposit (CDs) and more.5 Please note that other fees and expenses do apply to a continued investment in no-load mutual fund and are described in the prospectus. (FDIC insurance covers up to $100,000 per employer for each type of retirement account, or up to $250,000 in qualifying retirement accounts.)
A proven track record of performance.
When it comes to TIAA-CREF mutual funds and variable annuity accounts, our investment approach is rooted in fundamental, time-tested principles. Our seasoned portfolio management teams have a history of delivering consistent growth and a strong commitment to long-term performance.6 View complete information about our performance and rankings.
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1 Subject to TIAA’s claims-paying ability.
2 There is no account fee to own a TIAA-CREF IRA; however, brokerage transaction fees may apply. In addition, investors are subject to the underlying funds' portfolio management fees and expenses. You should evaluate all fees and expenses when making an investment decision.
3 The expense ratio on all mutual fund products and variable annuity accounts managed by TIAA-CREF is generally less than half the mutual fund industry average. Source: Morningstar Direct (September 2010), based on Morningstar expense comparisons by category.
4 As with all mutual funds, the principal value of a Lifecycle Fund isn’t guaranteed. Also, please note that the target date of the Lifecycle Fund is an approximate date when investors may plan to begin withdrawing from the fund. Approximately seven to ten years after a Lifecycle Fund’s target date, the fund may merge into the Lifecycle Retirement Income Fund or a similar fund.
5 Brokerage and transaction fees may apply.
6 Past performance cannot guarantee future results.
Brokerage Services are provided by TIAA-CREF Brokerage Services, a division of TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC, members FINRA and SIPC . Annuity contracts and certificates are issued by Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association (TIAA) and College Retirement Equities Fund (CREF), New York, NY.TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC and Teachers Personal Investors Services, Inc., members FINRA, distribute securities products.
