When an employee opens an account with TIAA-CREF, the allocation choice defaults to Life-Cycle Funds.  When TIAA-CREF receives money to be deposited to the participant’s account contracts are created.  The contracts will be mailed to the participant’s home address.  Information will be given explaining how to access your account by setting up a user ID and password.   With this information you may review your allocation choices, make changes, update address and beneficiary information and have access to many other tools.  It is your responsibility to notify TIAA-CREF of your beneficiary for a new contract.

Do you know who your beneficiary is on your contract(s)?  If you have moved, is your address updated with TIAA-CREF, for all of your contracts?  It is a good time to check.  Have you signed up for e-delivery or do you want to?

It’s easy to sign up for online access:  For secure access to all your personal account information, you need a password and a user ID to log in.  You select your password, so TlAA-CREF suggests making a choice that you can remember easily.

Follow these steps:

  1. Visit the website at tiaa-cref.org and click on the “Register for Online Access” access link
  2. Follow the simple instructions

Please Note: Before you start, you’ll want to have your TIAA-CREF contract number, Social Security number and date of birth on hand.

If you need help or would rather contact TIAA-CREF by phone, you may call 800-842-2252 Monday to Friday between 8 am and 10 pm, Saturday 9 am to 6 pm (ET).  When options are offered enter 0 and you will then be prompted to enter your social security number.   After that, enter 1 and that will allow you to speak directly to a consultant.

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