Retirement Planning — Built Around Your Actual Contract, Not a Generic 401(k)
If you’re a university professional, physician, or researcher, your largest asset is often TIAA — and the contract type behind it, not just the balance, determines your options. We build your retirement income plan around what you actually own.
Book a ConsultationYour Retirement Plan in Three Steps
We identify your income sources and TIAA contract type(s) — GRA, RA, GSRA, SRA, and more.
We model income, Social Security timing, and withdrawal order in MoneyGuidePro.
We monitor and adjust as markets, health, and tax law change through retirement.
Questions About Retirement Planning
When can I afford to retire?
It depends on your income sources, spending needs, and how long your assets need to last — typically 25 to 30+ years. We build an income projection comparing your expected expenses against Social Security, pensions, and portfolio withdrawals to give you a specific, personalized answer rather than a rule of thumb.
What’s the difference between a TIAA GRA and an RA contract?
A GRA (Group Retirement Annuity) and an RA (Retirement Annuity) both can hold TIAA Traditional, but have different rollover and liquidity rules — a GRA typically opens a 120-day post-separation window for full rollover flexibility, while an RA does not. Knowing which one you own changes your entire retirement income strategy.
Should I take TIAA lifetime income or roll it into an IRA?
It depends on your need for guaranteed income versus flexibility and legacy goals. TIAA Traditional lifetime income options offer guaranteed payments you can’t outlive; an IRA rollover offers control and flexible withdrawals but no guarantee. We model both scenarios against your full retirement plan before recommending either.
When should I start Social Security if I also have a pension?
The right age depends on your pension structure, other income sources, health, and tax bracket in each scenario — delaying Social Security increases your benefit, but a pension can change that math. We run your specific numbers rather than defaulting to a standard age.
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Get a retirement income plan built around your actual contracts.
No generic assumptions — just your income sources, modeled clearly.
Book a Consultation