of January 1, 2003 under IRS rules, you can generally contribute 100% of your Northwestern University salary up to $12,000, whichever is lower. Employees who have attained 15 years or more years of qualifying University service may make additional contributions above the limits specified in the table above if they failed to maximize their 403(b) contributions earlier in their employment.

Review Retirement Plan literature including the University's descriptive summary of the plan along with brochures and other materials published by TIAA-CREF and Fidelity Investments. Determine your retirement income goals - How much you feel you will need as income once you retire. Translate this figure to the amount you will need to contribute today in order to accumulate the necessary funds for the future.

There are many reasons for participating in the University's Retirement Plan including the fact that it is currently estimated that the Contributions you are making to Social Security will provide for only a small portion of the income you will need after you retire. The University's Retirement Plan is an excellent means of setting aside money you will need in the future.

First of all, I am note employed, so I don't know if there is such a thing like retirement for me, but if there is, I want to be a get-upper in Subway. What is this? You know, people fall asleep during the subway ride. I get them up when they need to get off. Especially at the Flushing-Main street stop, if you don't get off, you will be sent back to Times Sq. I am sure many people will appreciate my job.

Any employee on the regular payroll who is scheduled to work half-time or more (17.5 or more hours per week) and is at least age 24 may participate in the University's Basic Retirement Plan and make contributions which will be matched by the University. Any employee who is at least half time or more may participate in the Supplemental Retirement Plan.

You can direct contributions to two investment companies, TIAA-CREF and/or Fidelity Investments These two investment companies offer a full range of diversified aggressive to conservative investment funds. Voluntary (unmatched) or Supplemental contributions may be directed by employees enrolling in the plan for the first time to the Group Supplemental Retirement Annuity (GSRA) contract offered by TIAA-CREF. Voluntary Contributions may also be directed to any Fidelity mutual fund.

The IRS takes the position that the money you contribute to the Retirement Plan is to be used as income after you retire. While the IRS encourages your participation by allowing you to make Contributions and receive associated earnings on a taxed-deferred basis, there are restrictions on when you may access accumulated funds.

Yes, (effective January 1, 1999) you may borrow against RA, GRA, GSRA and SRA and both Basic (matched) and Supplemental (unmatched) Fidelity Contributions.

Can we borrow money from our retirement plan?A. No. You're only allowed to withdraw your retirement funds when: 1) You retire from the University. 2) You separate from the University.

Participation in the Retirement Plan requires the completion of the online enrollment process at hire and during Open Enrollment and afterward the submittal of a completed Retirement Plan Enrollment and Contribution Change Form as well the eatablishment of an investment company account which may be done online. Contributions will not commence until the enrollment process is completed.

The money you contribute to the Retirement Plan belongs to you and is immediately vested. When you leave the University, you take the amount you have accumulated with you. You will continue to earn interest and applicable dividends on such funds until you begin receiving annuity income at retirement or withdraw funds at an earlier date.

Yes! Although an MSA operates under many of the same rules that apply to traditional IRAs, it is not an IRA. In other words, an MSA is not a "retirement" plan--it is a "savings account" plan for medical expenses. Plus, unlike an IRA, there are no special income restrictions!

All State employees have to contribute to a retirement fund. Because UNM is an educational institution all employees are required by law to contribute to the Educational Retirement Board.

Today's employees are more likely than ever to scrutinize the details and performance of retirement plans. A quality retirement plan will provide flexible and numerous well-performing investment options, customized to your business's specific needs as well as unfailing service and administration from the retirement plan provider.

If your assets are in a tax-favored retirement fund such as a company or Keogh pension or profit-sharing plan (including thrift and savings plans), 401(k), IRA or stock bonus plan, your likeliest options are: Some plans tilt more than others towards certain withdrawal options. Annuities are commonest with pension plans. The other types of plan favor the other options. But in many plans, all or most options are available, and combinations may be available.

The employer determines if the plan allows for participant loans. This choice is selected in the adoption agreement. If loans are allowed in a plan, it is disclosed to the participants in the summary plan description.

When you become eligible to join your organization's retirement plan, your employer should provide you with a Summary Plan Description (SPD). If you do not have a copy of your plan's SPD, you can obtain one from your Human Resources department. The Summary Plan Description is an abbreviated listing of plan provisions, including eligibility requirements, vesting rules for employer contributions and distribution rules.

By saving in the plan, you take advantage of two tax benefits. One is that your contributions are conveniently deducted from your pay before taxes. The second is that since your reportable income is reduced, you pay less in current income taxes. Other advantages are that it is a convenient savings plan, your money grows tax-deferred, and you don't have immediate access to the money to spend it like a bank savings account.