Retirement How To's

Change my investment allocations with TIAA-CREF and/or Fidelity accounts

Once you have started a 403(b) university basic retirement account(s) or a voluntary tax-deferred investment(s) with TIAA-CREF or Fidelity Investments, it is very easy to change how your money is allocated among the various investment accounts and/or mutual funds.  These allocation changes should be completed directly with the vendor (TIAA-CREF or Fidelity Investments) and can be done at any time. 

One option is to call the vendor toll free and discuss your options with a representative:

  • To contact TIAA-CREF, call 1-800-842-2776
  • To contact Fidelity Investments, call 1-800-343-0860

Investment allocation changes may also be made by logging into your account online through the vendors Website:

*Please note that if you are trying to access your accounts online for the first time, you may find it easiest to contact the vendor by phone to have a representative walk you through the process.

Change my university 403(b) Basic Retirement Plan contributions between vendors:

Once you have been enrolled in the 403(b) University Basic Retirement Plan, it is very easy to change the university contribution between either: TIAA-CREF and/or Fidelity Investments.  These changes can be done at anytime, and the Benefits & Wellness office will process your request as of the next available pay period. You must fill out the appropriate "R" form and possibly an enrollment application form for the vendor.

Steps to follow:

  1. Download and complete the appropriate retirement vendor allocation form for your contribution level (see below): 
  • The R-6 form should be completed by Office Professional & hourly Public Broadcasting.
  • The R-8 form should be completed by P&A hourly (excluding P&A hourly Police Sergeants & Police Detectives) Supervisory Technical and Service Maintenance.
  • The R-10 form should be completed by Salaried P&A, Salaried Public Broadcasting, Senior Officer hired after 1/1/1996, Temp Faculty, Regular Faculty who were hired on or after 9/1/1996, Police & P&A hourly Police Sergeants & Police Detectives.
  • The R-12 form should be completed by employees who receive a 12% contribution (Salaried Broadcasting, Salaried P&A, Senior Officer employees who started working prior to 1996 and Regular Faculty and Temporary Faculty employees who started working prior to 9/1/1996).
  1. If you wish to invest all or part of your university contributions with TIAA-CREF or Fidelity Investments and have not previously contributed to that vendor while at CMU, you must also complete an enrollment form for that vendor:  TIAA-CREF GRA Enrollment Form or Fidelity Enrollment Application Form.  If you had part of your university contributions going to both TIAA-CREF and Fidelity Investments, then you will not need to complete any vendor enrollment form(s).
  2. Return the complete form(s) to the Benefits & Wellness office in Rowe 108. You may also fax your forms to us at 989-774-1058.

To find out more about the university retirement plans and the retirement vendors, please visit our Website at: Retirement Plans

Steps to follow to enroll in a 403(b) Voluntary Tax-Deferral Plan:

  1. Download and complete the 403(b) Voluntary Salary Reduction Agreement Form
  2. Download and complete the appropriate vendor application form:
  1. Return the completed form(s) to the Benefits & Wellness office in Rowe 108.  You may also fax your forms to us at 989-774-1058.

Steps to follow to enroll in  a 457(b) Public Deferred Compensation Plan:

Maximize my Tax-Deferred Investments

Each year the IRS sets the maximum that participants can contribute to 403(b) Supplemental Tax Deferral Plan and 457(b) GSRA Supplemental Deferred Compensation Plan.  The maximum you are allowed to contribute will depend on:

  • Your earnings
  • The annual contribution limit
  • Whether you are eligible for the over age 50 additional catch-up limits

The 415 limit is the maximum amount the employee and employer can contribute on a tax-deferred basis to all tax-advantaged plans.  Employees may be subject to a single 415 limit evern if the contributions come from two different employers or if the employee has self employment income and participates in a Simplified Employer Pension Plan or a Keogh. Employees are encouraged to consult with a tax attorney or accountant to make certain contributions to all plans are within the allowable limits.

Current annual maximums can be viewed at: Tax Deferred Maximums.  The maximums for the voluntary 403(b) Supplemental Tax Deferral plans and the Voluntary  457(b) Deferred compensation plan are separate; if you are  eligible for both plans you may contribute up to the maximum for each plan per calendar year.  

The Tax-Deferred Investment Maximization Worksheet will help you calculate your maximum amounts for the rest of this calendar year.   Once you have calculated the amount you wish to contribute per pay, please select the appropriate link to find out how to:

You may also contact the Benefits & Wellness office at 989-774-3661 or e-mail us at benefits@cmich.edu or stop in our office at Rowe Hall 108 for further assistance.

To increase, decrease, stop contributions or restart an existing 403(b) Supplemental Tax Deferral Plan and/or 457(b) Supplemental Deferred Compensation Plan: 

  1. Download and complete the entire 403(b) Voluntary Salary Reduction Agreement form
  2. Download and complete the entire 457(b) Voluntary Salary Deferral Agreement form
  3. Return the completed form with your signature and date to the Benefits & Wellness office in Rowe 108.  You may also fax your fom to us at 989-774-1058.

Change my voluntary 403(b) Supplemental Tax Deferral Plan contributions between vendors

Once you have started a voluntary tax-deferred investment in a 403(b), you may change your contributions between TIAA-CREF and/or Fidelity Investments.  These changes can be done at anytime, and the Benefits & Wellness office will process your request as of the next available pay period.   

Steps to follow:

  1. Download and complete the entire 403(b) Voluntary Salary Reduction Agreement form:
  2. If you wish to invest part or all of your contributions with TIAA-CREF or Fidelity Investments and have not previously contributed to that vendor while at CMU,  you must also complete an enrollment form for that vendor.
  3. Complete a  Fidelity 403(b) Custodial Application or a TIAA-CREF Group Supplemental Retirement Annuity Enrollment Form
  4. If you had part of your university contributions going to both TIAA-CREF and Fidelity, then you will not need to complete any vendor enrollment form(s).
  5. Return the completed, signed and dated form(s) to the Benefits & Wellness office in Rowe 108.  You may also fax your forms to us at 989-774-1058. 

Update/change my address or my beneficiaries with my retirement vendor

Please remember to keep your address information and beneficiaries with your retirement vendors updated as much as possible.  You can contact the vendor by phone to find out how to make these changes when necessary or you can download these forms directly from their Websites.

TIAA-CREF:

Make address or beneficiary changes by going to the TIAA-CREF website at http://www.tiaa-cref.org/  then log in to your account, click on "My Profile" and select the appropriate link.  Or Contact Customer Service at: 1-800-842-2776

Fidelity Investments:

Customer Service: 1-800-343-0860

Address and Beneficiary Change Forms: http://www.mysavingsatwork.com/atwork/1104818723638/1104818723678/1118753886963.htm#ContentBegin

MPSERS:

Customer Service: 1-800-381-5111

Address Change Form: http://www.michigan.gov/documents/r357x_15900_7.pdf

Beneficiary Nomination Form: http://www.michigan.gov/documents/r315c_15885_7.pdf

Or go to your miAccount and make changes on-line. (You must register first).

Individual retirement counseling appointments are available, usually up to 45-minutes in length, Registration is simple:

 Fidelity Investments

  1. Go to the Fidelity Investment's website: http://www.fidelity.com/atwork/reservations
    to view upcoming dates and times available; be sure to reserve an appointment online.
  2. You will need select the state "Michigan", and then look for Central Michigan University.
  3. From the available dates, select a time and date that works for you. Complete the required information and a confirmation page will come up showing the time and location of the meeting.
  4.  You can also call directly to Fidelity's toll free number at: 1-800-642-7131, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to midnight Eastern time.

TIAA-Cref

  1. Go to the TIAA-CREF website: http://www.tiaa-cref.org/moc
  2. You will need to select the state "Michigan", and scroll down to Central Michigan University. 
  3. From the available day, select a time that works for you. Complete the required information and a confirmation page will come up for you showing the time and location of the meeting. 
  4. You can also call toll free 1-800-732-8353

Contact Retirement Vendors

TIAA-CREF

Customer Service: 1-800-842-2776

Website: http://enroll.tiaa-cref.org/cmich/

Fidelity Investments

Customer Service: 1-800-343-0860

Website: www.mysavingsatwork.com

MPSERS

Customer Service: 1-800-381-5111

Website: http://www.mi.gov/orsschools