Human Resources

UWRP/VIP vendor change and plan update

Moving forward with the retirement plan changes

The University of Washington announced earlier this summer that it is transitioning to a new retirement plan experience, which will become effective in January 2026. The changes are designed to make retirement planning easier, more secure and more cost-effective for you.

Your UW retirement benefit

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. To further that goal, UW has decided to partner with TIAA to maximize efficiency and provide strong participant support to each UWRP and VIP plan participant.

TIAA has been available on the UW retirement plans since 1939 and will be offering the same investments currently available at Fidelity, plus some additional options.

Why did the UW select TIAA?

TIAA was chosen by the UW for its commitment to lifetime income and a secure retirement for all, its strong reputation in higher education and its ability to provide plan education, excellent customer service, personalized financial advice and modern digital tools. This change will also reduce the amount you pay as a plan participant, meaning more money goes into your savings.

By offering only TIAA as an investment provider on the plans, the UW will be able to offer:

  • Consistent participant service across all groups.
  • Technology platform enhancements driven by TIAA’s partnership with Accenture.
  • Stronger compliance support to keep pace with changing federal laws.
  • Simplified plan administration and oversight

How will this change affect my investments?

Your investments will stay the same. The UW sets the investment menu, and those same funds will continue to be available after TIAA becomes the recordkeeper. You can view the current UW investment offerings on Fidelity’s site. TIAA’s role is to provide account access and track participant information. When your investments transfer from Fidelity to TIAA, they will remain continuously invested, with no out-of-market period.

What if I have money invested in a brokerage account?

Brokerage investments will transfer in much the same way as other investments, with no out-of-market time. There are some current options that may be available on TIAA’s brokerage platform. If you are invested in brokerage, you will receive separate communication later this fall with additional details and options available to you.

What are the other changes the UW is making?

Other changes that will be effective in January 2026 include:

  • Offering loans on UWRP for the first time
  • Expanding withdrawal options in both UWRP and VIP
  • Eliminating the optional two-year waiting period for new participants
  • Making 10% UWRP contributions at age 50 mandatory

Support is here for you now and as the transition progresses

We’ve launched a dedicated support webpage to help guide you through the transition. We’ll regularly update this page with new resources as they’re developed, answers to your questions, and dates and locations for in-person and virtual webinars, seminars and help desks this fall.

If you have questions now, both UW and TIAA are ready to help:

What to do now

There is nothing you need to do now. The UW and TIAA will be in touch with clear instructions and next steps in October.