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Retirement Education & Planning Resources

Harvard University Retirement Center (HURC) and the TIAA Platform

You have several ways to manage your retirement plans, both online and by phone. By calling the HURC at 800-527-1398 (weekdays, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. EST), you can manage your retirement plan, TDA and 457(b) accounts, including starting, stopping or changing contributions to your TDA and/or 457(b), electing or changing investments for retirement plan accounts, and changing where future contributions are directed. The HURC is also available to answer your retirement plan questions. You can also go to the HURC online to open and make changes to your TDA and/or 457(b) contribution amounts.

When you visit the multi-vendor online platform at TIAA.org/harvard, you can select investments from Harvard's investment lineup for your retirement, TDA and 457(b) accounts, transfer balances between investments, and change where future contributions are directed. You can also open a TIAA brokerage account. And you can make important personal updates, like designating or changing your beneficiaries, updating your address, elect to receive information electronically and more.

TIAA Education and Advisory Services: Harvard faculty and staff can access comprehensive personalized advice from TIAA – online, in person or by phone, from self-guided tools to customized planning for those with complex financial needs.

Pension Estimates

If you are in the Staff Plan and hired before July 1, 2001 (July 1, 2002 for HUCTW) or if you are a service/trades union employee, you can request a pension estimate by contacting the Harvard University Retirement Center (HURC) at 800-527-1398.

  • Administrative/professional and support staff hired before July 1, 1995 (July 1, 1996 for HUCTW) can review this online narrated SAMPLE statement to help you better understand the multiple components of your retirement benefit.
  • Services/trades union employees hired before July 1, 1995 can review this online narrated SAMPLE statement to help you better understand the multiple components of your retirement benefit.

Educational seminars

To learn more about your retirement benefits, you can attend free, on-campus educational seminars or take advantage of live and prerecorded webinars. View our Financial Education Calendar for upcoming programs and registration information. You can also visit TIAA.

These recorded presentations can help you get started:

Retirewise - free retirement planning workshops

Comprehensive workshop presented by MetLife, free for faculty, staff and spouses/partners, over two half days. Program is offered several times a year. Next Session: Friday, August 19 and 26, 9:30am-1pm, register for this session online.

One-on-one meetings

Whether you’re just starting out or close to retirement, have had a recent life change, or just want to make sure you’re on track, through Harvard's retirement plans you may meet with a TIAA financial advisor at no cost. TIAA advisors can look at your financial situation, discuss your goals and help create a plan to reach those goals. Note that all appointments are online or by phone at this time due to the Coronavirus outbreak.

Schedule an investment advice session online by visiting TIAA.org/schedulenow or call 800-732-8353, weekdays, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (ET).

Online Planning Tools

myFiTage™

An interactive digital tool to help you understand when you’ll reach financial independence, including being financially ready to retire. Discover personalized insights and suggestions, see how long your savings will last, model scenarios and turn your plan into a reality! To access myFiTage™, log onto My Harvard Total Rewards. Navigate to the bottom of the Welcome page, then click the learn more button in the myFiTage™ tile to start.

TIAA Tools

Get help developing a sound financial and retirement plan by accessing these online resources. Visit TIAA.org/tools for convenient resources and tools that can help you on the path to long-term financial security.

Create your own retirement action plan

Explore the Retirement Advisor tool:

  • Receive a custom retirement plan in five steps
  • Receive savings and investment recommendations

Discover your retirement income needs

Try out the Retirement Income Illustrator:

  • Find out how much of your current income you may need to replace in order to cover retirement expenses
  • Explore your retirement income options
  • See your estimated monthly retirement income and learn how to maximize it

Track all of your accounts in one place

Use the 360° Financial View:

  • Consolidate your information from more than 11,000 financial institutions in one place
  • Track your spending
  • Set up email alerts
  • Create a budget that works for you

Steps for Those Close to Retirement

When you're getting closer to retirement and considering your options, Harvard provides additional guidance.