A better way to manage your UW retirement benefits is coming
The following message was shared with employees who have a UW Retirement Plan (UWRP) and/or UW Voluntary Investment Program (VIP) retirement plan on June 30, 2025.
Your UW retirement plan is getting even better – here’s what’s changing
The University of Washington is transitioning to a new retirement plan experience – designed to make it easier, more secure and more cost-effective for you.
Effective January 1, 2026, TIAA will become the sole recordkeeper for both the UW Retirement Plan (UWRP) and the Voluntary Investment Program (VIP) retirement plans, replacing the current dual-recordkeeper structure (TIAA and Fidelity). This means you’ll access and manage all your UW retirement investments from one place, with improved options and better support.
Why we’re making this change
After a competitive process, UW’s Provost approved TIAA as the sole recordkeeper after receiving the UW Fund Review Committee’s recommendation to move to TIAA for their strong reputation in higher education and their ability to provide excellent customer support and modern digital tools. The update will:
- Simplify your experience with only one platform to manage your retirement investments
- Increase cybersecurity and user access controls
- Lower your fees (from as much as $100 to around $23 per person)
- Enhance retirement savings and accessibility, in alignment with the Secure Act 2.0
- Streamline VIP enrollment and contribution rate changes for new and current employees in Workday
What’s changing
Here are some of the new features you’ll notice starting January 2026:
- One recordkeeper: TIAA – all UWRP and VIP accounts will be moved to TIAA
- New loan options through UWRP – for the first time
- Expanded withdrawal options – including for in-service, hardship, domestic abuse, adoption/birth and federally-declared disasters
- Earlier matching – employees eligible for UWRP will now receive UW’s matching contributions immediately (no more two-year optional period)
- Mandatory 10% UWRP contribution at age 50 – to help boost long-term savings
- More support and guidance – from in-person sessions to personal consultations
What to do now
For now, there’s nothing you need to do. We’ll be in touch with clear instructions later this fall if you need to take any required actions.
Support is coming your way
We know retirement planning can feel complicated. That’s why, throughout this transition, we’ll be offering:
- Live and recorded webinars – coming this summer
- In-person sessions at all UW campuses and the Medical Centers – coming this fall
- 1:1 consultations with retirement planning professionals – which you can schedule now
We’ve also launched a new dedicated support webpage to help guide you through the transition. We’ll regularly update this page with new resources as they’re developed, dates and locations for in-person sessions and answers to your questions.
Why this all matters: Your UW retirement plan is a big deal
For many people, it’s easy to just set your retirement and voluntary investment program elections when you first enroll and then forget about them. But your UW retirement benefit is a powerful part of your total compensation. With generous matching contributions and access to world-class investment tools, your plan is designed to help you build long-term financial security throughout your work journey and into your retirement.
Questions?
We’re committed to keeping you informed every step of the way and answering any questions you might have. Please feel free to reach out at any time.
- UWSupport@tiaa.org for investment advice or guidance on how to navigate this change.
- Benefits@uw.edu for questions about the decision or process to change vendors.