401k: TIAA-CREF
Updated: February, 2011

As a TIAA-CREF employee, you may be eligible to participate in your company's 401(k) plan. This page is dedicated to giving you the information you need to make the most of your retirement investments.

If you find this information helpful, please help us spread the word at TIAA-CREF.

Our company offers a free initial consultation if you have $500,000 in investable assets or are within 3 years of retirement.  The benefit to you of having an initial consultation with one of our financial advisors is that they can help you make decisions about your entire investment portfolio as well as answer other questions you may have.  The meeting can be held at our office in Seattle or on the phone.  To request a meeting, please click here or call 1-800-423-4893.

According to our records, your current plan options are listed below.  Please let us know if your plan has changed, or if there are additions or deletions to this list be emailing

CREF Variable Annuity Investment  Options:

 
 CREF Stock
  CREF Bond Market               
 CREF Growth
  CREF Inflation-Linked Bond
 CREF Equity Index   CREF Money Market
 CREF Global Equities 
  TIAA Real Estate
 TIAA Traditional
  CREF Social Choice

 

 

 Our CREF Variable Annuity 403(b) Recommendation:
    Aggressive
Moderate
Conservative
    %Equity
 100%  60% 40%
     %Bond  0%  40%  60%
 Fund Name:
Fund Category:        
CREF Equity Index
 Large Blend
  45% 27% 18%
CREF Global Equities
Global Equity
  45%
27%
18%
TIAA Real Estate  Real Estate
  10% 6% 4%
CREF Inflation Linked Bond
Inflation-Protected Bond   0%
8%
12%
CREF Bond Market
 Intermediate-Term Bond
   0%  20% 30%
TIAA Traditional
Stable Value
  0%
12%
18%

  

 TIAA Investment Options:
 
 TIAA-CREF Bond Plus  TIAA-CREF Large Cap Value
 TIAA-CREF Short-Term Bond
 TIAA-CREF International Equity Index
 TIAA-CREF Bond
 TIAA-CREF Large Cap Growth Index  
 TIAA-CREF High Yield  TIAA-CREF Large Cap Growth & Income
 TIAA-CREF Inflation-Linked Bond   TIAA-CREF Mid-Cap Growth 
 TIAA-CREF Equity Index
 TIAA-CREF Mid-Cap Value
 TIAA-CREF Social Choice   TIAA-CREF Small Cap Blend Index
 TIAA-CREF International Equity
 TIAA-CREF S&P 500 Index
 TIAA-CREF Large-Cap Value Index
 TIAA-CREF Money Market 
 TIAA-CREF Small Cap Equity
 TIAA-CREF Large Cap Growth
 TIAA-CREF Bond Index Fund
 TIAA-CREF Emerging Markets
 TIAA-CREF Real Estate Securities
 TIAA-CREF Emerging Markets Index

 

 Our TIAA 403(b) Recommendation:
    Aggressive
Moderate
Conservative
    %Equity
 100%  60% 40%
     %Bond  0%  40%  60%
 Fund Name:
Fund Category:        
TIAA-CREF S&P 500 Index 
Large Blend   10%
6%
4%
TIAA-CREF Large-Cap Value Index Large Value   10%
6%
4%
TIAA-CREF Mid-Cap Value Mid-Cap Value
  10%
6%
4%
TIAA-CREF Small Cap Blend Index
 Small Blend
  10% 6% 4%
TIAA-CREF International Equity Index Foreign Large Blend
  41%
24%
16%
TIAA-CREF Real Estate Securities REIT   10% 6% 4%
TIAA-CREF Emerging Markets Index
 Emerging Markets
  9% 6% 4%
TIAA-CREF Inflation-Linked Bond Inflation-Protected Bond
  0%
8%
12%
TIAA-CREF Bond Index
Intermediate-Term Bond
  0%
20%
30%
TIAA-CREF Short-Term Bond Short-Term Bond
  0%
12%
18%

 

Which Portfolio Is Right For You?
Here are our asset allocation recommendations based on the level of risk you decide to take.  To determine your tolerance for risk so that you can choose the portfolio that's right for you, be sure to read the articles linked on our homepage.  It's important that you understand the basis for our recommendations because you'll be more likely to implement them and stay the course.  If you have questions, check our FAQs
  

Aggressive Portfolio
When you want to take out all the stops and "go for it," this is the portfolio for you.  Equally weighted at home in the U.S. and abroad, this combination is a favorite of young investors with plenty of time before retirement and the ability to remain calm during market downturns.  It’s also suited for those on a fast track who want or need all the speed and distance they can get from their investments.  Because 100 percent of the portfolio is in equities, the only buffer against the slings and arrows of the market is time. But if you’ve got the time, this is the way to go.

Moderate Portfolio
This combination is a fine choice for many employees and especially for long-term investors. Its 60 percent weighting in equities gives it plenty of power for stock market growth, while the 40 percent in fixed-income provides stability and safety during declines in the market.  This portfolio is most suitable for investors with five or more years until they will need their money.

 

Conservative Portfolio
This combination stresses safety, with a mix of 40 percent equities and 60 percent fixed-income investments.  It is most suitable for investors who consider themselves conservative, who are close to or past the age of retirement or who, for whatever reason, care more about holding onto their money than making it grow.

 

Discover how professional money management can help you. 

Get a Free Consultation from a Merriman financial advisor.

 

 

DISCLAIMER:
This information is provided by Merriman, Inc., a registered investment advisor, and is believed to be from reliable sources, but no guarantee is made as to accuracy or completeness.  The investment securities and strategies discussed are not suitable for all investors. Recommendations are of a general nature, not based on knowledge of any individual's specific needs or circumstances, and there is no intent to provide individual investment advisory, supervisory or management services.  Merriman, Inc. is not an authorized representative of TIAA-CREF  or of its retirement plans.