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Retirement Savings

Peace of Mind

Whether your retirement is decades away or just around the corner, it's never too early, or too late, to start saving for your retirement. Stanford's retirement savings programs offer two plans so that you can start saving after your first paycheck and then enjoy Stanford contributions after your first year of service. We also provide access to a wide selection of investment options.

Retirement Plan Refresher Online Presentation

Free Financial Counseling

Vanguard and TIAA-CREF provide free individual financial counseling on campus and at SLAC. Download the investment counselor appointment schedule.

To Schedule A Counseling Appointment:

Vanguard meetvanguard.com (800) 662-0106 ext. 14500
TIAA-CREF tiaa-cref.org/moc (800) 842-2776

Changes in Retirement Savings Could Affect You

Stanford is making important changes to the retirement savings plans.

Click here for more information.

Tax-Deferred Annuity Plan (TDA) - Enroll At Hire

Get started right away by taking advantage of Stanford's Tax-Deferred Annuity Plan (TDA), which allows you to contribute a percentage of your salary on a before-tax basis. The TDA plan is designed to give Stanford employees an immediate vehicle for retirement savings. You may enroll in the TDA plan as soon as you receive your first paycheck.

Distributions from previous employer retirement plans may be rolled over into your Stanford TDA. Your investment company (Fidelity and/or TIAA-CREF) can assist you.

Note: When you reach your one-year eligibility for SCRP, you can keep your contributions in the TDA or direct them to the SCRP, or both.

For more information, download the Tax-Deferred Annuity Plan (TDA) Summary.

Stanford Contributory Retirement Plan (SCRP) - Enroll After One Year

Celebrate your one-year anniversary at Stanford by enrolling in the Stanford Contributory Retirement Plan (SCRP). The SCRP is a flexible and robust savings tool that allows you to contribute a percentage of your salary on either a before-tax or after-tax basis.

Plus, whether or not you enroll, Stanford rewards you with a Basic contribution based on your salary and years of service. If you enroll and make contributions of your own, you become eligible for Matching contributions from Stanford. Over time your contributions, plus Stanford's Basic and Matching contributions, add up to a powerful savings tool!

Important: Although you may enroll in SCRP after you receive your first paycheck, no contributions can begin until you complete one year of employment at Stanford.

For more information, download the Stanford Contributory Retirement Plan Summary.

How TDA And SCRP Work

Both plans allow you to make contributions from your paycheck directly into a savings account you set up using the Stanford Retirement Manager and TIAA-CREF. You decide how to invest your contributions: Stanford Retirement Manager offers a wide variety of Fidelity and Vanguard funds, and allows you to manage your account either online or by phone.

If you wish to invest in investment funds offered by TIAA-CREF, you must first enroll in the Stanford Retirement Manager, then link through to TIAA-CREF to make your investment fund elections.

Remember, as a participant, you accept all investment risks. Your before-tax contributions and plan distributions are subject to tax at the time of distribution.

Staff Retirement Annuity Plan (SRAP) - Limited Enrollment

The Staff Retirement Annuity Plan (SRAP) is available only to Deputized Patrol Officers, Police Sergeants and temporary or casual employees who meet the plan requirements.

For more information, download the SRAP Summary for Deputized Patrol Officers and Police Sergeants, or the SRAP summary for Participants Other Than Police Sergeants and Deputized Patrol Officers.

Eligibility

If you are a Stanford employee, you are likely eligible to enroll in the TDA following your first regular paycheck. You may also be eligible to enroll in SCRP after one year of employment. Your eligibility is based on a variety of factors, so we recommend looking at the Tax-Deferred Annuity Plan (TDA) Summary or the Stanford Contributory Retirement Plan Summary for SCRP to determine your eligibility. You may also contact Stanford Retirement Manager Services.

Note: Recalled Retirees (faculty & staff): If you're recalled into active service you may have additional eligibility considerations. Contact Stanford Benefits for assistance at (650) 736-2985, option 3.

This Web site provides a summary of eligibility, coverage, vesting, retirement dates, payment options and other subjects. However, the official Plan Document, together with certain annuity contracts and custodial agreements with investment providers (all as amended from time to time) govern the Plan's actual operation, and the determination and payment of benefits. In the event of any conflict between the information in this retirement section of the Stanford Benefits Web site and the official Plan Document or any of the annuity contracts or custodial agreements, the Plan Document, annuity contract, or custodial agreement will govern.

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