In most cases, yes: You can roll your personal, tax-qualified IRAs and retirement accounts from former employers into either or both of the university's 401(a) and 403(b) plans. This allows you to take advantage of the best-in-class lineup and consolidate your retirement savings. Speak with a TIAA financial consultant to learn whether your retirement accounts outside the university’s Plans are eligible for rollover, and to have them transferred in (if applicable).

Guidelines for rolling funds into the university's Plans:

  1. The funds being rolled are from a qualified retirement plan or a tax-qualified IRA.
     
  2. The employee is participating in the university Plan receiving the rollover.
    • Someone who is not already participating in the 401(a) Plan is not allowed to roll funds into the 401(a) Plan;
    • Someone who is not already participating in the 403(b) Plan would need to complete the salary deferral agreement to enroll in the Plan and start contributing, and then could roll over funds.

      AND
       
  3. There are no after-tax funds being rolled in. (Neither Plan accepts rollovers of after-tax funds.)