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Fidelity vs. TIAA: How to Choose the Right Plan for Your Retirement

  • Writer: Heather Asteriou
    Heather Asteriou
  • May 6
  • 2 min read
Fidelity vs TIAA retirement plan options

















Choosing between Fidelity and TIAA for your University retirement plan is a crucial decision. Both providers have unique strengths, and selecting the right one depends on your individual retirement goals and personal preferences. Let's simplify your decision-making process. 


Key Differences to Understand 

Here are three important factors to consider when choosing between Fidelity and TIAA: 


1. Investment Flexibility vs. Stability 

  • Fidelity: Offers mutual funds and index funds, providing greater flexibility and direct control over your investment choices. Ideal if you prefer actively managing your portfolio with granular investment options or diversified index investing. 


  • TIAA: Known for annuity products offering predictable, stable returns and guaranteed lifetime income. Ideal if you value certainty and secure, guaranteed payouts in retirement, or simple,



    broad investment options. 


2. Costs and Fees 

Fees can significantly impact your retirement savings over time: 


  • Fidelity: Typically offers low fees, particularly through low-cost index funds. This can mean substantial savings over the long term. Do keep in mind that Fidelity’s wide range of choices includes some actively managed funds that carry higher fees, so you still need to check each fund’s expense ratio and not assume every Fidelity option is the cheapest. 


  • TIAA: Slightly higher fees with their annuity products, justified by additional security features and guaranteed income streams. They provide mutual funds too, including index funds and target-date funds, and many of these have very competitive low fees.  


3. Retirement Income Needs 

How you prefer to receive retirement income can help determine your choice: 


  • Fidelity: Offers flexible withdrawal options suitable for those who want control over their retirement spending. Withdrawals can be set up systematically. 


  • TIAA: Offers structured, guaranteed lifetime income, appealing if you seek predictable monthly payments during retirement. Additionally, you can customize your income needs with systematic withdrawals. 


Gain Complete Confidence—Free! 

Still unsure? Our free masterclass, "Fidelity vs. TIAA: Master Your University Retirement Plan," available at Learning with Provizr, offers clear, expert-led video lessons to help you choose confidently. 





Take control today and secure the retirement future you deserve. 

 

 
 

Provizr, LLC is a registered investment adviser in the State of Michigan and separate entity from Fidelity & TIAA. The advisers may not transact business in states where it is not appropriately registered, excluded or exempted from registration. Information presented is for educational purposes only and does not intend to make an offer or solicitation for the sale or purchase of any securities or investment advisory services. Investments involve risk and are not guaranteed. Be sure to consult with a qualified financial adviser and/or tax professional before implementing any strategy discussed herein.  The content is developed from sources believed to be providing accurate information. The information in this material is not intended as tax or legal advice. Please consult legal or tax professionals for specific information regarding your individual situation. Some of this material was developed and produced by FMG Suite to provide information on a topic that may be of interest. FMG Suite is not affiliated with the named representative, broker - dealer, state - or SEC - registered investment advisory firm. The opinions expressed and material provided are for general information, and should not be considered a solicitation for the purchase or sale of any security.

 

Provizr free downloadable guides are designed with University employees in mind.  These free guides will help you better understand your university retirement TIAA and Fidelity 403b accounts, and how to set up your investment portfolios to help reach your retirement goals.  Our guides are designed to help  everyone from university employees who want questions answered about their Fidelity or TIAA retirement account investment portfolios, to those university employees who want to try a do it yourself system of setting up their own retirement investment portfolios.  Our newest guide, Investing 101 for University Employees, was developed specifically to help out University of Michigan employees with their TIAA and Fidelity 403b retirement investment accounts.  If you have any questions feel free to reach out to us in the contact section, or stop by - We are local to Ann Arbor, Michigan but can help University of Michigan Employees anywhere across the country! 

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