Retirement Investment Lineup

Tier 1 Allocation Tier

The allocation tier offers target date funds (Vanguard Target Retirement Funds), which can be a good option for those who want to “set it and forget it.” You can simply select a fund based on your birth year; the fund will automatically adjust and rebalance for you as you get closer to retirement, assuming a retirement age of 65. The birth years charts for Vanguard Target Retirement Funds are listed on page 17 of the Transition Guide.

Additionally, the allocation tier will offer two variable annuities that are currently available through TIAA. In retirement, variable annuities offer plan participants the ability to establish an income stream guaranteed to last for the lifetime of the annuitant(s). However, the payout amounts from a variable annuity’s income stream may rise or fall based on the performance of the annuity’s underlying investment portfolio.

Tier 2 - Passive Tier

The passive tier offers lower-cost indexed options that attempt to match the performance of several market indexes (e.g., S&P 500^®). It can provide broad diversification within a single type of asset class.

Tier 3 - Active Tier

The active tier offers investment options that have a manager who uses financial resources, forecasts, and their own judgment and experience to make investment decisions on what securities to buy, hold, and sell within each portfolio.

Tier 4 - New Self-Directed Brokerage Option

If you’re an investor who wants more investment selection, you can open a self-directed brokerage account through the GW retirement plans.

This account gives you additional opportunities to invest in a wide range of mutual funds across several asset classes outside of the plans’ investment lineup. It also includes many of the funds no longer available through the plans’ lineup.

Please note: There are minimum/subsequent balance requirements to use this option, which vary by plan and provider.

To learn more, visit tiaa.org/brokerage or netbenefits.com/gw, and click Quick Links, then BrokerageLink.
 

Brokerage Costs

If you choose to invest through the self-directed brokerage account option, there may be commissions on transactions and other account-related fees. Visit tiaa.org/sda_caa for a complete list of commissions and fees for TIAA. For a listing of all applicable brokerage fees for Fidelity, please refer to the Fidelity BrokerageLink^® Commission Schedule by logging in to netbenefits.com/gw, clicking Quick Links, then BrokerageLink.

In addition, there are specific fund fees and expenses that may apply. These are described in each fund’s current prospectus.

Monitoring Your Brokerage Investments and Account 

If you choose to open a self-directed brokerage account, keep in mind that GW neither selects nor monitors investment funds available through self-directed brokerage accounts, and TIAA doesn’t offer investment advice for balances in these accounts. It’s important that you consider whether or not you have the time and expertise necessary to manage your own investments in the account.