Variable annuities
You deserve more retirement income.
TIAA and CREF variable annuities are designed to grow your savings and create wealth. You can choose from multiple investment selections, and, when you're ready, receive income that will last as long as you live.1
What are variable annuities?
A variable retirement annuity is an investment product where you can save while you’re working (this phase is called “accumulation”) and receive payments for life during retirement (this phase is called “annuitization”). Your contributions are invested in the annuity’s portfolio, so your savings balance and retirement payments will vary with the investments’ performance.
TIAA invented the variable annuity in 1952 to help savers take advantage of long-term market growth and keep pace with inflation. Our variable annuities include CREF, TIAA Real Estate and TIAA Access.
Overview
Built for growth while you save and during retirement.
Built for growth
Our variable annuities have offered competitive returns against benchmarks and peers for a strong growth opportunity throughout life.
Among the lowest costs
CREF Accounts are managed at cost with expenses that are among the lowest in the industry.2
More lifetime income
Historically, CREF Accounts have provided 67% more lifetime income in retirement than the standard method of withdrawing 4% of your savings per year.3
Benefits at any age.
Early savers enjoy growth potential.
As an early saver you have time, so you may want to invest in assets that provide growth potential. Our variable annuities are growth-oriented investment products that are designed to help you increase your savings over the long term.
Investing now can pay off later.
CREF and TIAA variable annuities can continue to help you build wealth throughout your working years. If you’re starting to think about diversification, pairing a variable annuity with a fixed annuity, like
Control how you receive payments.
When you're ready, you can activate retirement checks and choose how much of your savings you want to convert, how often to receive checks and more.4
Receive income for the rest of your life.
Once you’ve retired you can receive payments for as long as you live. If your needs change, you can move money between all our variable annuities without fee or penalty.
And since your money remains invested, your payouts have the potential to increase. For example, participants’ income from the CREF Stock Account has grown by an average of 5.8% per year since it launched.
*Issued by Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America (TIAA), New York, NY.
CREF accounts
Choose from a broad range of CREF investment options.
In 1952 TIAA introduced the College Retirement Equities Fund (CREF), the first-ever variable annuity, to help savers keep pace with inflation and take advantage of market growth. Today, we offer eight CREF investment choices, all with the option for lifetime income.
CREF Stock
Objective: Growth from stocks of all styles and sizes from around the world.
CREF Global Equities
Objective: Growth from a diversified portfolio of U.S. and foreign stocks.
CREF Growth
Objective: Exceptional growth with expected fluctuations in value.
CREF Equity Index
Objective: Growth that tracks the overall U.S. stock market performance.
CREF Social Choice
Objective: Growth from stocks and bonds that represent certain social values.
CREF Core Bond
Objective: Growth from bonds chosen to balance risk.
CREF Inflation-Linked Bond
Objective: Growth from bonds chosen to outpace inflation.
CREF Money Market
Objective: Growth that minimizes short-term risk and maintains liquidity.
Other variable annuities
Exclusive TIAA opportunities.
TIAA Real Estate
A unique way to invest in commercial real estate with the option for lifetime income.
TIAA Access
A low-cost variable annuity that invests in mutual funds and can provide lifetime income.5
Next steps
Ready to take action on your retirement today?
Exchange
Swap one or more of your current investments for one or more of our variable annuities.6
Choose future investments
Keep what you have now and add one or more of our variable annuities for incoming money only.
Rebalance
If you have money invested, realign your entire portfolio by investment type or category.7
Activate retirement checks8
If you’re at or nearing retirement, connect with one of our retirement income specialists to learn how to turn on lifetime income payments.
If you’re retiring in the next 12 months call 888-380-6424. If you’re retiring in more than 12 months call 800-842-2252. We’re here weekdays, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. ET.
Open a new IRA
If you don't have access to our variable annuities via an employer-sponsored plan, learn how you can within an IRA.
Transfer
Move funds from a previous retirement account into our variable annuities.9
Activate retirement checks8
If you’re at or nearing retirement, connect with one of our retirement income specialists to learn how to turn on lifetime income payments.
If you’re retiring in the next 12 months call 888-380-6424. If you’re retiring in more than 12 months call 800-842-2252. We’re here weekdays, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. ET.
Exclusive TIAA benefit: Try out variable annuity payments.
With most annuities, once you start receiving payments you can’t go back. With our Income Test Drive program, you can try out receiving payments from your variable annuity. If you decide it’s right for you, you can continue payments. If not, you can stop with no fee or penalty.10
What people ask us.
What is an annuity?
An annuity is a contract between you and an insurance company. A retirement annuity is designed to help you save for retirement. During your working years you contribute money to your annuity account. When you’re ready you can activate retirement payments (called “annuitizing”), and the insurance company will pay you regularly for a fixed period or for the rest of your life. There are different types of annuities.
- Guaranteed/fixed annuities. While you're saving (that is, making contributions into an account), you earn a minimum guaranteed interest rate on your contributions. When you retire, fixed annuities can offer you regular payments that will never fall below a certain guaranteed level and can provide income that is guaranteed to last for your lifetime. TIAA Traditional is our flagship fixed annuity.
- Variable annuities. While you're saving (that is, making contributions into an account), the company you’re saving with invests your money in a variety of asset classes; account values will fluctuate based on the performance of the investments in the accounts. While variable annuities are designed to grow, they carry the potential risk of losing the original money you invested. When you retire, variable annuities can provide an income stream that is guaranteed to last for your lifetime. The actual amount of each payment will rise or fall based on investment performance. Our variable annuities include CREF, TIAA Real Estate and TIAA Access.
What are variable annuities’ advantages and disadvantages?
Variable annuities can be a great way to save for retirement, especially when paired with a fixed annuity.
Variable annuity advantages:
- While saving: The opportunity for long-term growth based on the performance of the annuity’s investments.
- During retirement: Payments for life that can vary based on the performance of the annuity’s investments.
Variable annuity disadvantages:
- While saving: Growth isn't predictable; it can go up or down with the account’s investments.
- During retirement: Payments aren't predictable; while you are guaranteed to receive a check, the payment amount may vary depending on the investments’ performance.
One strategy many people use is saving with both a fixed and variable annuity and taking income from both at retirement. A fixed annuity offers guaranteed, more conservative growth while saving and predictable payments during retirement. A variable annuity complements a fixed annuity by providing the potential for greater growth while saving, as well as in retirement, providing a greater chance of keeping up with cost of living changes.
Are variable annuities guaranteed?
Our variable annuities, including CREF, TIAA Real Estate and TIAA Access, guarantee that you will receive lifetime income: regular retirement payments that will last for as long as you live.
Do variable annuities have fees?
Many variable annuities have fees. Our CREF variable annuity is offered at cost, and with no profit to TIAA.
Are annuities FDIC insured?
No, annuities are not FDIC insured but are protected by state guaranty associations up to certain limits. TIAA is a member of every state life insurance guaranty association. For more information about the national system of guaranty associations, go to nolhga.com.
The insurance company that issues the annuity backs its guarantee. For this reason, an important indicator of an insurance company's current financial health is its "claims-paying ability." This is expressed as the financial strength rating assigned by independent rating agencies: Standard and Poor's, AM Best, Fitch, and Moody's. You can usually find an insurance company's financial strength ratings on their website.
TIAA is one of only three insurance groups in the United States to currently hold the highest-possible rating from three of the four leading insurance company rating agencies, for its stability, claims-paying ability and overall financial strength.11
A new way to learn about retirement annuities.
TIAA has created a brand-new digital experience to help you understand retirement annuities, including how they work, the difference between fixed and variable and how they can offer assurance that you’ll have money coming in for as long as you live.
We’re here to help.
Give us a call at 800-842-2252, weekdays, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. (ET), or schedule an appointment.
1 Annuity Account options are available through contracts issued by TIAA or CREF. These contracts are designed for retirement or other long-term goals, and offer a variety of income options, including lifetime income. Any guarantees under annuities issued by TIAA are subject to TIAA's claims-paying ability. Payments from the variable annuity accounts are not guaranteed and will rise and fall based on investment performance.
2 Source: Morningstar Direct, 09/30/2024. The CREF variable annuity accounts offer expense ratios below the average expense ratio of all mutual fund and all variable annuities. Our variable annuity accounts are subject to various fees and expenses, including but not limited to management, administrative, and distribution fees; our variable annuity products have an additional mortality and expense risk charge. Please see CREF prospectus for other fees or expenses.
3 Payments from variable annuity accounts are not guaranteed. When compared to theoretical 4% systematic withdrawal amounts from similarly invested peer groups, CREF, as represented by CREF stock, has historically paid higher levels of lifetime annuity income which has ranged from 5.9% to 6.8%. There are material differences between mutual funds and CREF variable accounts. Mutual fund capital-gain distributions or dividends paid are added to the number of shares owned (number of shares increase). CREF account capital-gain distributions or dividends are added to the unit value (number of units stay constant). Mutual fund withdrawals are only available as one-time or systematic withdrawals. CREF accounts include the right to receive an income stream (a binding decision to receive annuity payments) from all or part of an account’s accumulation. CREF accounts deduct a mortality and expense-risk charge of 0.005%.
4 Converting some or all of your savings to income benefits is an irrevocable decision once benefit payments begin.
5 Morningstar, Inc. Total net expenses for TIAA Access ranges from 12 bps to 180 bps compared to the US variable annuity universe average total net expenses of 236 bps. July 15, 2024.
6 Before exchanging assets, be sure to carefully consider the benefits of both the existing and new product. There will likely be differences in features, costs, surrender charges, services, company strength and other important aspects. There may also be tax consequences or other penalties associated with the transfer of assets. Indirect transfers may be subject to taxation and penalties. Speak with a TIAA consultant and your tax advisor regarding your situation.
7 Rebalancing does not protect against loss or guarantee that an investor’s goals will be met.
8 Retirement check refers to the annuity income received in retirement. Guarantees of fixed monthly payments are only associated with TIAA's fixed annuities.
9 Prior to rolling over, consider your other options. You may be able to leave money in your current plan, withdraw cash or roll over the assets to a new employer’s plan, if one is available and rollovers are permitted. Compare the differences in investment options, services, fees and expenses, withdrawal options, required minimum distributions, other plan features and tax treatment. Speak with a TIAA consultant and your tax advisor regarding your situation. Learn more at
10 There are no fees or charges to initiate or stop this feature. However, it’s important to note that your annuity’s balance will be reduced by the income payments you receive, independent of the annuity’s performance. Income Test Drive income payments are based upon the annuitization of the amount in the account, period (minimum of 10 years), and other factors chosen by the participant. If you do not stop the Income Test Drive within the 2 year test period, the remaining balance in the account you selected for the Income Text Drive Feature will be annuitized in accordance with the selections you made for the Income Test Drive. Annuitization at that point will be irrevocable.
11 For its stability, claims-paying ability and overall financial strength, TIAA is a member of one of only three insurance groups in the United States to currently hold the highest rating available to U.S. insurers from three of the four leading insurance company rating agencies: A.M. Best (A++ as of July 2024), Fitch, (AAA as of August 2024) and Standard & Poor's (AA+ as of May 2024), and the second highest possible rating from Moody’s Investors Service (Aa1 as of October 2024).
You could lose money by investing in the CREF Money Market Account. Because the accumulation unit value of the Account will fluctuate, the value of your investment may increase or decrease. An investment in the Account is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. The Account's sponsor has no legal obligation to provide support to the Account, and you should not expect that the sponsor will provide financial support to the Account at any time.
Guaranteed Period: The period during which annuity payment remaining due after your death and the death of your annuity partner, if any, will continue to be paid to the payee named to receive them. If you opt for guaranteed period ( 10, 15 or 20 years) and you die before it's over, income payments will continue to your beneficiary until the end of the period. If you don’t opt for a guaranteed period, all payments end at your death-so, it's possible for you to receive only one payment if you die less than a month after payments start. (the 15-year guaranteed period is not available under all contracts.)
CREF Accounts may provide longer income payments than other investment products because of their Mortality Credit ("Longevity Credit") feature. The promise of lifetime income is made possible through the pooling of account owners' assets. Effectively, the assets from those with shorter life spans remain in "the pool" to provided payouts to those in the pool who live longer. Those that live the longest may receive more income, so CREF can provide income for an entire retirement. CREF's insurance benefit ensures that you're not going it alone. While CREF Stock Account provide income, other investment options typically generate income based only on return of principal and interest (or investment growth) and thus can run out of money.
A variable annuity is an insurance contract and includes underlying investments whose value is tied to market performance. When markets are up, you can capture the gains, but you may also experience losses when markets are down. When you retire, you can choose to receive income for life and/ or other income options.
Responsible investing incorporates Environmental Social Governance (ESG) factors that may affect exposure to issuers, sectors, industries, limiting the type and number of investment opportunities available, which could result in excluding investments that perform well.
Because social criteria exclude some investments, the Social Choice Equity Fund may not be able to take advantage of the same opportunities or market trends as portfolios that do not use such criteria. Note: If a fund’s investment strategy uses social criteria, it can exclude securities of certain issuers for non-financial reasons and may forgo some opportunities available to funds that do not use such criteria.
Annuity contracts may contain terms for keeping them in force. We can provide you with costs and complete details.
TIAA Traditional is a fixed annuity product issued through these contracts by Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America (TIAA), 730 Third Avenue, New York, NY, 10017: Form series including but not limited to: 1000.24; G-1000.4; IGRS-01-84-ACC; IGRSP-01-84-ACC; 6008.8. Not all contracts are available in all states or currently issued.
Income and withdrawal options are subject to the terms of the employer plan. Withdrawals prior to age 59 ½ may be subject to a 10% federal tax penalty. In addition to ordinary income tax.
There is no guarantee that a diversified portfolio will enhance overall returns or outperform a non-diversified portfolio. Diversification does not protect against market risk.
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.