TIAA Real Estate Account
Go beyond stocks and bonds with the TIAA Real Estate Account.
The TIAA Real Estate Account is a variable annuity that invests in a diversified portfolio of high quality real estate, from industrial and multifamily to life sciences and data centers, and also provides lifetime income.
Diversify your retirement plans with real estate.
Direct exposure to real estate
The TIAA Real Estate Account invests in private properties, an investment rarely available in retirement plans. Real estate investments may reduce portfolio risk and volatility and improve its overall risk-return characteristics, thanks to portfolio diversification and lack of volatility compared to the stock market.1
Access to liquidity
Unlike owning property, participants have guaranteed access to their money at any time. They can transfer to other investments each quarter with no delay.2
Option for lifetime income
At retirement, employees have the option to turn some or all of their TIAA Real Estate Account savings into lifetime income. They can decide how long to receive payments, whether to have beneficiaries and more.3
Adding the TIAA Real Estate Account to your plan.
Include TIAA Real Estate in your plan’s default solution with TIAA RetirePlus, or as a stand-alone option on the plan menu.
Customer default solution: TIAA RetirePlus®
Gain more control and bring the power of lifetime income to your default with TIAA RetirePlus.
Add as an individual option
Add the TIAA Real Estate Account to the plan menu as a standalone option.
Helping your participants help themselves.
Learn how TIAA continues to expand participants’ financial and retirement education helping you work more productively with them. This latest interactive experience educates participants about the importance and value of lifetime income.
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The real estate industry is subject to various risks including fluctuations in underlying property values, expenses and income, and potential environmental liabilities.
In general, the value of the TIAA Real Estate Account will fluctuate based on the underlying value of the direct real estate, real estate-related investments, real estate-related securities and liquid, fixed income investments in which it invests. The risks associated with investing in the Real Estate Account include the risks associated with real estate ownership including, among other things, fluctuations in underlying property values, higher expenses or lower income than expected, risks associated with borrowing and potential environmental problems and liability, as well as risks associated with participant flows and conflicts of interest. For a more complete discussion of these and other risks, please consult the prospectus.
This material is for informational or educational purposes only and is not fiduciary investment advice, or a securities, investment strategy, or insurance product recommendation. This material does not consider an individual’s own objectives or circumstances which should be the basis of any investment decision.
1Returns are largely unaffected by movements in stock or bond markets since returns are generated by rental income and changes in property values. For the 10-year period ended March 31, 2024, REA correlation to the S&P 500 Index and Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index was -0.29 [PC1] [PC2] and -0.32, respectively. Over this same period, correlation between the FTSE Nareit All Equity REIT Index and the S&P 500 Index was 0.79. You cannot invest directly in any index. Index returns do not reflect a deduction for fees and expenses. Diversification is a technique to help reduce risk. It is not guaranteed to protect against loss.
2Withdrawals of earnings are subject to ordinary income tax, plus a possible federal 10% penalty if you make a withdrawal before age 59½. Transfers out of the account to another TIAA or to a CREF account or into another investment option can be executed at any time, but are limited to once per calendar quarter, although some plans may allow systematic transfers that result in more than one transfer per calendar quarter, and certain other limited exceptions to this restriction apply.
3Other payout options are available. Any guarantees under annuities issued by Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America are subject to its' claims-paying ability. Payments from the TIAA Real Estate Account will rise or fall based on investment performance. Converting some or all of your savings to income benefits (referred to as "annuitization") is a permanent decision. Once income benefit payments have begun, you are unable to change to another option.