We work for every future.
Everyone deserves a secure retirement. For more than 100 years, we've delivered it for millions of people—and we're just getting started.
Why TIAA
We know retirement
Generations of Americans trust TIAA with their retirements. We equip them with knowledge, advice, and the assurance of lifetime income.
We guarantee income for life
Not sure when you can retire? Or how much you can spend once you do? We help you replace your working income with a monthly retirement paycheck1—no matter how long your retirement lasts.
We invest with excellence
We invest across a wide range of global assets, including stocks and bonds. This diversity means you never have to choose between keeping your money safe and seeing meaningful growth.
We guide success
Whatever path you're on, there's an expert ready to help. From one-on-one consulting to online support, our mission is to help you go with confidence.
We manage wealth
We work with you to achieve your financial goals with a range of solutions and strategies designed to help maximize the impact of your money when you retire.
We are different
With no public shareholders—and a charter that requires TIAA to operate without profit—TIAA is uniquely able to return profits to participants2 and reinvest in our business for future sharing.
Our latest
The TIAA promise
A monthly retirement paycheck, guaranteed
At TIAA, we believe that people deserve security. So we make a promise: setting aside a portion of your assets with TIAA can guarantee you a monthly retirement paycheck for as long as you live, guaranteed.
TIAA is ranked among world's most ethical companies
TIAA's Legacy Makers commit to "Retire Inequality" at ESSENCE
In partnership with the Global Black Economic Forum, TIAA showed up at the 2023 Essence Festival with a pledge to #RetireInequality. Learn about our commitment.
Love, loss and legacy
TIAA President & CEO Thasunda Brown Duckett talks about her path to being one of the few current Black women leaders in the Fortune 500 and what drives her focus on retirement security for millions of Americans.
A great place for working parents
TIAA has been honored again by Seramount as part of their 100 Best Companies and Best Companies for Dads combined list. Being on this list means we have built a family-friendly and inclusive workplace.
Equity and inclusion
Fighting to close equity gaps in retirement
Retirement
TIAA is working to close the retirement gaps faced by women and Black Americans. See how we've impacted changes in culture over the last year.
Business
TIAA provides equitable opportunities and inclusive representation throughout our supply chain. Learn how we are promoting equity for business communities.
Our Organization
Diversity and inclusion are integral to how we serve the financial needs of our clients.
Our history
First movers from day one
We got our start in 1918, fighting to make secure retirement possible for America's educators. Today, our solutions and forward-thinking guidance help millions of people retire securely, with freedom and dignity.
Andrew Carnegie founds TIAA
One of history's greatest visionaries, Andrew Carnegie believed in a secure retirement for all educators. His new organization introduces a fully funded pension system specifically for teachers across the United States.
We invent the variable annuity
TIAA forms CREF — the first-ever variable annuity. An innovative new product, it offers a diversified fund of common stocks to help investors fight inflation.
We introduce Social Choice
Early advocates for value-driven and ESG investing, TIAA introduces Social Choice, an innovative variable annuity that offers investors a socially responsible investment option.
TIAA acquires Nuveen
The globally renowned asset manager strengthens TIAA's asset management capabilities, enhancing our ability to provide reliable, competitive lifetime income solutions.
Take action
Let's get started
Enroll in your plan
Learn about your plan, set up your account online and start saving for retirement right now.
Open an IRA
Interested in what an IRA can do for you? Whatever your goals, we have an IRA to match. Let's find yours.
Get advice
From saving and investing to leaving a legacy for your loved ones, we'll help make your money do more for you.
Discover more
Careers
Experience a collaborative, fulfilling career as a member of the TIAA team.
Connect with us
Our team is here to deliver guidance and insight at every step of your journey.
Governance & accountability
Our ability to serve is based on our ability to earn and keep your trust. See how we hold ourselves to the highest standard.
What people ask us
What does TIAA or CREF actually mean?
Good question. Let's break it down.
TIAA is our name, and it stands for Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America. Our friends call us TIAA—you can, too.
CREF is the College Retirement Equities Fund, a variable annuity we created in 1952.
What is the difference between TIAA and CREF?
Though you often hear them used together, TIAA and CREF are different things. TIAA is our company name, while CREF is a variable annuity that we created and provide to our customers.
Because we made CREF, you may hear people refer to it as TIAA CREF.
What is an annuity?
Annuities help you establish a reliable income stream in retirement through a monthly paycheck.
The payments that you get from an annuity are guaranteed for as long as you live, which gives you the assurance that, once you leave the workforce, you'll have income you can count on.
1. Paycheck refers to the annuity income received in retirement. Guarantees are subject to TIAA's claims-paying ability.
2. TIAA may share profits with Traditional Retirement annuity owners through declared additional amounts of interest and through increases in annuity income throughout retirement. Additional amounts are on TIAA Traditional annuity contracts available within an employer-sponsored plan. Additional amounts may be increased the longer accumulation occurs before annuitization. These additional amounts are discretionary, and are not guaranteed.
This material is for informational or educational purposes only and does not constitute fiduciary investment advice under ERISA, a securities recommendation under all securities laws, or an insurance product recommendation under state insurance laws or regulations. This material does not take into account any specific objectives or circumstances of any particular investor or suggest any specific course of action. Investment decisions should be made based on the investor's own objectives and circumstances.