OREGON UNIVERSITY SYSTEM

Oregon University System Tax-Deferred Investment Plan

These are important details regarding this plan.

ELIGIBILITY

All OUS employees and OSU clinical interns are eligible. Student employees may not participate.

CONTRIBUTIONS

This plan allows only for employee contributions on a voluntary basis. Deferrals must be a whole percent of pay with a minimum contribution of $25.00 per month.

EMPLOYER MATCHING

Oregon University System does not make matching contributions with this plan.

VESTING

"Vesting" refers to an employee's right, usually earned over time, to receive some retirement benefits regardless of whether or not they remain with the employer. Your contribution to this account will be 100% vested immediately.

INVESTMENTS

Your employer offers you a variety of investment choices from an array of asset classes. You can see a list of the investment choices under this plan on the Investment Choices page.

EXPENSES

Expenses vary from investment to investment. To learn about expenses associated with an investment, see a list of the investment choices under this plan on the Investment Choices page, and read the Fact Sheet or the prospectus for that investment.

DISTRIBUTIONS

You have a variety of options1 when it’s time to take income from this plan:

  • Interest Only

     You can receive the current interest earned on your TIAA Traditional Account in monthly payments. Your principal remains intact while you receive the interest.

    • These payments are generally available to individuals between ages 55 and 70½ when minimum distributions are required.
       
  • Lifetime Retirement Income
    • One-life annuity — provides income for as long as you live.
       
    • Two-life annuity — provides lifetime income for you and an annuity partner (your spouse or someone else you name) for as long as either of you live.
       
    • One- or two-life annuity with guaranteed period — guarantees income for up to 20 years, as long as the period you choose does not exceed your life expectancy. It ensures that income continues to go to your beneficiaries for the remainder of the guaranteed period if you (one-life annuity) or both you and your annuity partner (two-life annuity) die before the end of that period.
       
  • Lump Sum

     You can withdraw all or part of your account in a single cash payment, depending on your plan rules and the terms of your contracts.

    • Your right to a lump-sum distribution from your TIAA Traditional Account may be restricted to taking 10 annual payments under those terms.
       
  • Minimum Distribution Option

     Generally, you must begin taking minimum withdrawals from your account by April 1 following the year in which you turn age 70½ or retire, whichever is later.

    • This can help you defer the minimum required distribution while keeping you in compliance with federal regulations.
       
  • Retirement Transition Benefit

     If your contract allows, you can withdraw, in cash, up to 10% of your accumulation at the beginning of a conversion to lifetime annuity income. The amount you withdraw will reduce your lifetime annuity income accordingly.
     
  • Single-Sum Death Benefit

      A set amount your beneficiary(ies) will receive from your retirement account if you die before taking income.
     
  • Small-Sum Distribution

     If your plan doesn't otherwise allow cash distributions, upon separation from service you can withdraw your entire retirement savings if your TIAA Traditional Account value does not exceed $2,000 and your overall account balance is below a limit set by your employer's plan (typically $4,000). If your plan does allow cash distributions, upon separation you may be able to withdraw your TIAA Traditional accumulation if the value does not exceed $2,000. Talk to your benefits office for details.
     
  • Systematic Withdrawals

     If your plan allows, you can choose to receive regular income payments (minimum $100) on a semimonthly, monthly, quarterly, semiannual or annual basis. You can increase, decrease or suspend the payments at any time.

    • These withdrawals are not available from TIAA Traditional Account balances.
       
This plan is designed to provide you with income throughout your retirement. Leaving money in your account may allow the funds to grow on a tax-deferred basis.

This plan allows you to receive a cash withdrawal. This may be restricted by the terms of your TIAA-CREF contracts. Taxes and penalties may apply.

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TAXATION

Any earnings on the contributions you make to a supplemental plan grow tax deferred. The taxable income you'll pay upon withdrawing funds depends on the type of contributions you make to the plan.

If you make pretax contributions, withdrawals are fully taxable as ordinary income. If you make after-tax Roth 403(b)/401(k) contributions, the contributions are always tax free when you begin to withdraw from the plan. However, in order to receive the Roth earnings tax-free you must meet the five year seasoning period and attain age 59½ or if you are disabled. The payment of Roth 403(b)/401(k) accumulations will be on a pro-rata basis including both contributions and earnings as required by the Internal Revenue Code.

For either type of contribution, withdrawals before age 59½ are generally subject to a 10% early withdrawal penalty on the taxable portion of the amount received.

Important: The tax information contained herein is not intended to be used, and cannot be used by any taxpayer for the purpose of avoiding tax penalties that may be imposed on the taxpayer. It was written to support the promotion of the products and services addressed herein. Taxpayers should seek advice based on their own particular circumstances from an independent tax advisor.

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LOANS

Loans are available from a minimum of $1,000 to a maximum of $50,000 from your employer. How much you can borrow depends on the amount you currently have in the plan and whether you have other outstanding loans.

If you have accumulations in other employers' plans, you may be able to transfer or roll them over to the Oregon University System Tax-Deferred Investment Plan to increase your maximum loan amount.

Note: Only one loan per eligible plan may be requested per calendar year. You are responsible to disclose all outstanding and/or defaulted loans through all plans of the employer, including legacy 403(b) plan accounts, this 403(b) Plan account, the Optional Retirement 401(a) Plan and the State of Oregon IRC 457 Oregon Savings Growth Program.

TIAA-CREF is responsible for reporting loans to your employer, including beginning and end dates, as loans are issued. However, you are ultimately responsible for the consequences of excess loans or outstanding loan balances. TIAA-CREF and your employer may rely on your statement regarding outstanding loan balances.

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1 The availability of certain distributions may depend on the type of contract underlying your plan. Also, if you're married, your right to choose an option may be subject to your spouse's right to survivor benefits. Talk to your benefits office for details.

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Investment, insurance and annuity products are not FDIC insured, are not bank guaranteed, are not deposits, are not insured by any federal government agency, are not a condition to any banking service or activity, and may lose value.

TIAA-CREF products may be subject to market and other risk factors. See the applicable product literature, or visit www.tiaa-cref.org for details.

TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC and Teachers Personal Investors Services, Inc., members FINRA, distribute securities products. Annuity contracts and certificates are issued by Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association (TIAA) and College Retirement Equities Fund (CREF), New York, NY.

© 2013 and prior years, Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association-College Retirement Equities Fund (TIAA-CREF), 730 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017.