My new employer lets you invest your 403(b) funds in TIAA-CREF or Fidelity (or both). I plan to contribute 5% of my income, which is required to get the 8% employer match (I invest seperately into a Roth IRA). My only experience with retirement plans has been with my Roth IRA and a 401(k) through a large corporation. I am unable to view the 403(b) documentation on these companies' websites until I actually choose which one(s) I want to sign up with. Can anyone offer their take on how these two companies compare in investment options (I know this can vary by employer, but your thoughts would still help), ease of use of the website, customer service, and general thoughts on the two? I don't know which one I should go with, or if it would be worthwhile putting some money in each. Thanks!
2007-02-06 07:01:57 · 5 answers · asked by ? 3 in Business & Finance ➔ Investing
Maybe you should direct a little money at both...until you get the option of viewing each plan....then make your future contributions to the plan that offers you the best options. Somewhere along the line you can change your contributions..(.probably on-line)
In my experience (manage a 401 with Fidelity funds for a friend...and four different rollovers and IRA's all with Fidelity.) ..I have no complaints.
With a 401 "plan" however, you won't get the full range of investments available to say an IRA or reg brokerage account.
If you end up going with Fidelity, you can very easily roll your other IRA's and the 401 into accounts with them...then you can move them into about 2000 different funds ( or trade individual stocks or ETF's for that matter) If you "get into it" you'll love it...and probably do better than " just letting it lay there" !!
2007-02-06 08:05:02 · answer #1 · answered by jebediabartlett 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Honestly, I've struggled with the same quandary.
My employer also offers both companies for investments. My experience with TIAA-CREF has been better than Fidelity. This could be due to my lack of experience in investing and finance in general though. I don't consider myself qualified enough to say one is better than the other, but I will say that I feel more at ease using TIAA. TIAA seems to have a larger presence where I work, and is more accessible for me. I like their website and electronic services. They offer many options for updating and making account changes on-line ( I guess most companies do this now). Account information is readily available and I check mine daily, which is too often I suppose. I am happy with TIAA now and believe I will stick with them for the long haul. I also started a Roth IRA with TIAA. They just recently implemented a new option for buying stocks, but the transactions fees seem a bit pricey to me. You have a difficult choice to make but I don't think there will be a wrong choice. It's up to you on how you invest regardless of the company you allow to hold your money.
Regardless of your choice, make sure you take full advantage of the counseling sessions that should be offered. I do this on a regular basis and really put them to the test in our meetings.
2007-02-06 15:47:59 · answer #2 · answered by efriend1969 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Fidelity has a longer better track record then the Tiaa CREF fund managers. Although both are solid investment options I would lean towards Fidelity
2007-02-06 18:57:16 · answer #3 · answered by kmfdmiah 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Fidelity all the way.
Fidelity offers way more investment options than the TIAA-CREF folks.
2007-02-06 15:08:41 · answer #4 · answered by derek 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
TIAA-CREF bureaucratic & inferior. Hope your Roth in stocks(incl International stocks) all the way. Investment options mean much more than anything else.
2007-02-06 16:07:21 · answer #5 · answered by vegas_iwish 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋