Inside Iowa State

Feb. 15, 2008

New TIAA-CREF funds debut in March

by Paula Van Brocklin

Beginning March 1, faculty and staff enrolled in TIAA-CREF will have five new investment choices. These funds also will be offered through TIAA-CREF's group supplemental retirement annuity, which is available to all employees.

The existing Lifecycle Funds series -- a ready-made, diversified portfolio that targets participants' anticipated retirement years -- will add two new funds for the years 2045 and 2050. These are geared toward young employees who will face retirement in about 40 years. The Lifecycle series offers five-year incremental funds beginning with the year 2010.

Now that some employees enrolled in the Lifecycle Fund 2010 may retire soon, TIAA-CREF has added the retirement income fund to the Lifecycle series. As the years pass and the incremental Lifecycle Funds disappear (i.e., the 2010 fund will become obsolete in 2011), an employee's Lifecycle fund will roll into the new retirement income fund, which will help provide a steady stream of income upon retirement.

Also new to the TIAA-CREF investment lineup is a short-term bond fund, which offers one- to five-year maturity rates. According to Ann Doty, retirement information specialist in the benefits office, this type of fund appeals to those who pay close attention to their investments.

"This is for people who like to move their money around," Doty said. "They will have another asset class that was missing before."

TIAA-CREF also will offer a large-cap growth fund to complement its current large-cap value and index funds. Doty said the growth fund is unique from the existing options because analysts will manage it, investigating large companies with significant growth potential.

With several new investment options, Doty recommends employees try, for free, TIAA-CREF's new custom software, which recommends how to best allocate funds to meet your financial goals.

"It takes a lot of guesswork out of the process," Doty said.

Interested in learning more? Contact the Ames TIAA-CREF office, 268-8600, to meet with a consultant. For more services the Ames office provides, see www.inside.iastate.edu/2007/1102/tiaa.shtml.

Five new investment choices for TIAA-CREF participants debut next month. For details, contact the Ames TIAA-CREF office, 268-8600, to meet with a consultant.