Coming soon: A new notice on retirement plan fees

Cornell retirement resources:

For more information, contact the retirement plan investment vendors or Benefit Services:

TIAA-CREF

Fidelity Investments

Benefit Services (607-255-3936)

"Understanding Retirement Plan Fees"

A special notice will be sent in August to all Cornell faculty and staff eligible for the Cornell University Retirement Plan and/or the Cornell University Tax Deferred Annuity Plan with information on the retirement plans' investment options and associated fees. This information, mandated by the U.S. Department of Labor, will help employees make informed decisions on these plan options, as the funds' fees can vary depending on such factors as the risks and complexities of the funds' investment strategies and services provided. Differences in fund fees and expenses may significantly change the amount in a retirement account over many years of savings.

Cornell has contracted with TIAA-CREF to deliver a consolidated notice to satisfy both its own and Fidelity Investments' fee disclosure requirements. All eligible employees with an active Cornell email address will receive this consolidated email from "TIAA-CREF eDelivery." If you do not have an active Cornell email, the notice will be mailed to your home mailing address. You may receive two notices if you are eligible for both retirement plans. Notices will be sent every year to eligible participants in the plans.

Those who have already signed up for TIAA-CREF and Fidelity eDelivery will receive not only this mailing by email but also many other documents, including fund prospectuses, that they formerly received in paper format via the U.S. Postal Service.

How services are provided to retirement plans and how service providers are compensated have become very complex in recent years. Benefit Services has set up a website to assist staff and faculty eligible for the Cornell University Retirement Plan and/or the Cornell University Tax Deferred Annuity Plan in understanding retirement plan fees at https://www.hr.cornell.edu/benefits/retirement/understanding.html. This page includes many resources from the retirement plan vendors TIAA-CREF and Fidelity Investments, and guidance from the U.S. Department of Labor.

Media Contact

Joe Schwartz