University of Michigan employees have one of the most generous retirement benefit structures in the country, spread across the U-M Basic Retirement Plan, the 403(b) Supplemental Retirement Account, and the 457(b) Deferred Compensation Plan, all offered through TIAA and Fidelity. The complexity is the problem: most U-M faculty and staff never fully use the plans, misunderstand TIAA Traditional, or leave money on the table in the SRA. This guide explains how the U-M plans wo...

University retirement plans at TIAA and Fidelity are often lower cost than retail IRAs, but that does not mean they are free. This guide shows where hidden fees live, how to calculate your real all-in cost, and how to reduce expenses without leaving your plan.

Happy Summer! Equity markets continue to trade near record highs despite no shortage of headlines that could unsettle investors. While daily market movements often appear driven by the latest economic report or geopolitical event, the underlying forces supporting equities have remained remarkably consistent. Corporate earnings continue to be one of the strongest supports for the market, with analysts expecting earnings growth across every major sector. As long as companies

Most financial advisors push rollovers because their business model depends on moving assets to an IRA. But for many University employees, rolling money out of TIAA or Fidelity can mean giving up valuable plan benefits. This guide explains why staying in-plan is often better and how professional retirement management can work without moving a dollar.

Many University employees have TIAA retirement accounts, but few fully understand what they own. This guide breaks down TIAA Traditional, CREF, Real Estate Account, fees, Transfer Payout Annuity rules, annuitization decisions, and how to coordinate TIAA with Fidelity inside your University 403(b), 401(a), or 457(b).

Most University employees know they have a 403(b). Most do not realize their University splits it into two coordinated accounts: a Basic 403(b) and a 403(b) Supplemental Retirement Account (SRA). The two share a single combined 2026 elective deferral limit of $24,500. The most common 403(b) mistake University employees make is funding only the Basic 403(b) at the default 5% and never opening the SRA, leaving roughly $19,500 of tax-advantaged space unused every year.

University employees have a more powerful retirement plan structure than almost anyone in the private sector — and most don't fully use it. This guide explains how the 401(a), 403(b), 403(b) SRA, and 457(b) work together, what each one covers, how to coordinate dollars across all four buckets for 2026, and what to do at each milestone age from 45 to 60. The single most expensive mistake is leaving accounts on autopilot for decades.

Greetings! Over the past month, investors were reminded that good economic news is not always good news for markets. A stronger-than-expected jobs report reinforced the view that the U.S. economy remains remarkably resilient. While that is encouraging for businesses, workers, and consumers, it also led investors to rethink the path of interest rates. Market sentiment has shifted meaningfully, with investors now anticipating that the Federal Reserve may keep rates elevated l

Women in higher education face structural retirement headwinds that compound over a 30-year career: longer lifespans, persistent pay gaps, career interruptions for caregiving, and retirement plan structures designed for uninterrupted male careers. The result is a measurable retirement readiness gap. This guide quantifies that gap, walks through the catch-up tools University retirement plans uniquely offer, covers the single-life vs. joint-life annuity decision (the most un...