This is an important reminder about retirement plan companies and who may appropriately contact you.
You should be aware that your name and workplace contact information are often available through online directories and department websites. As such, you are encouraged to be skeptical of any attempts by individuals requesting personal or financial information. You should exercise the same care and caution as you would when receiving sales calls or advertising emails at home.
Investment company representatives only contact you directly if you initiate contact first (with the exception of TIAA WMAs described below), such as to provide follow up that you request after a seminar or counseling appointment.
SURS Retirement Plans and SURS Deferred Comp 457 Plan
For most participants, SURS communications are limited to a plan choice packet when beginning participation in SURS, and occasional newsletters. Retirement Savings Plan (RSP) and SURS Deferred Comp 457 Plan (DCP) members may schedule an appointment with an Account Representative for general support. You may occasionally receive general news or updates related to your investment accounts, but SURS representatives will not contact members with offers of investment advice.
University 403(b) Plan
The University’s 403(b) Plan has two vendors, TIAA and Fidelity Investments. These are the only two vendor companies that are approved to provide investment options and educational opportunities. Designated representatives from these companies, who may have reason to contact employees, are:
TIAA
- Chad Stein
- TIAA Wealth Management Advisors (WMAs): Chris Wathen and Chirag Choksey are the primary advisors. There are several additional Wealth Management Advisors. Contact TIAA at 800-842-2776 to verify the advisor contacting you is a TIAA representative.
Fidelity Investments
- Nick Camarella
- Sasha Heathman
These representatives provide free, one-on-one counseling sessions and seminars. You can register for counseling sessions and webinars online. None of the vendor companies make cold calls to invite employees to these sessions.
TIAA provides no-cost expanded wealth management services for 403(b) participants whose TIAA accounts reach a certain level of funds. TIAA Wealth Management Advisors (WMAs) do make calls to those employees, but must clearly identify themselves as TIAA employees, and offer these additional services in a no-pressure, informational way.
State Deferred Comp 457 Plan
The State of Illinois’ Deferred Compensation 457 Plan is administered by the Illinois Department of Central Management Services (CMS) and has only one approved vendor company - Empower. Because CMS creates "shell" accounts in the Empower system for all employees, all new hires will receive a welcome letter from Empower regardless of whether they enroll in the State 457 Plan. Additionally, you will receive a letter from Empower when you submit a change of address at My UI Info, again regardless of whether you participate in the State 457 Plan.
Questions?
If you are unsure if a contact is a legitimate retirement plan representative, you can contact either the University Payroll & Benefits (UPB) office via the UPB Service Portal or the System Human Resource Services office SystemHRServices@uillinois.edu.
If you are unsure if a contact representing SURS is legitimate, you should call SURS directly at 800-ASK-SURS.
