collapsed, click to expand | When can I enroll in the Plan? |
There is no waiting period. You can enroll in the Plan at any time.
collapsed, click to expand | How do I enroll in the Plan? |
Enroll online at any time, or by calling the Fidelity Retirement Benefits Line at 1-800-343-0860.
In order for your contributions to be sent to Fidelity, you will need to log into UBenefits at https://go.utah.edu/cas/login using your ID number and password.
collapsed, click to expand | When is my enrollment effective? |
Your enrollment becomes effective once you elect a deferral percentage, which initiates deduction of your contributions from your pay. These salary deductions will generally begin with your next pay period after we receive your enrollment information, or as soon as administratively possible.
collapsed, click to expand | How much can I contribute? |
Through automatic payroll deductions, you may contribute between 1% and 100% of your eligible compensation as pretax contributions. Sign up online by accessing the “Contribution Amount” section under “Quick Links” on NetBenefits®, or by calling the Fidelity Retirement Benefits Line at 1-800-343-0860.
collapsed, click to expand | What is the Roth contribution option? |
A Roth contribution to your retirement savings plan allows you to make after-tax contributions and take any associated earnings completely tax free at retirement - as long as the distribution is a qualified one. A qualified distribution, in this case, is one that is taken at least five tax years after your first Roth 403(b) contribution and after you have attained age 59½, or become disabled or die. Through automatic payroll deduction, you can contribute as little as $15 and as much as 75% of your eligible pay as designated Roth contributions, up to the annual IRS dollar limits.
Find more information online within the "Learn" section of NetBenefits®.
collapsed, click to expand | What catch-up contribution can I make? |
If you have reached age 50 or will reach 50 during the calendar year January 1 – December 31 and are making the maximum plan or IRS contribution, you may make an additional catch-up contribution each pay period. The maximum annual catch-up contribution is $7,500. Going forward, catch-up contribution limits will be subject to cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) in $500 increments.
collapsed, click to expand | What is the IRS contribution limit? |
The IRS contribution limit for 2025 is $23,500.
collapsed, click to expand | When am I vested? |
You are always 100% vested in your own contributions to the 403(b) Supplemental Retirement Savings Plan.
Most campus employees are immediately vested; however, employees in patient care positions participating in the Plan H Benefit Program have a vesting requirement. The vesting would only apply to University funds that may be contributed to the 403(b) Plan.
collapsed, click to expand | What are my investment options? |
To help you meet your investment goals, the Plan offers you a range of options. You can select a mix of investment options that best suits your goals, time horizon, and risk tolerance. The many investment options available through the Plan include conservative, moderately conservative, and aggressive funds. A complete description of the Plan’s investment options and their performance, as well as planning tools to help you choose an appropriate mix, are available online.
collapsed, click to expand | What if I don’t make an investment election? |
We encourage you to take an active role in the University of Utah 403(b) Plan and choose investment options that best suit your goals, time horizon, and risk tolerance. If you do not select specific investment options in the Plan, your contributions will be invested in the Fidelity Freedom® Fund Class K6 with the target retirement date closest to the year you might retire, based on your current age and assuming a retirement age of 65, at the direction of University of Utah.
If no date of birth or an invalid date of birth is on file at Fidelity, your contributions may be invested in the Fidelity Freedom® Income Fund Class K6. More information about the Fidelity Freedom® Fund Class K6 options can be found online.
Target Date Funds are an asset mix of stocks, bonds and other investments that automatically becomes more conservative as the fund approaches its target retirement date and beyond. Principal invested is not guaranteed.
collapsed, click to expand | What are the single fund solution options in my plan? |
If the idea of getting professional help to manage your investments appeals to you, your plan offers Target Date Funds. With Target Date Funds, the investment mix of stocks and bonds automatically becomes more conservative as the target retirement date approaches. Principal invested is not guaranteed at any time, including at or after the fund’s target date. Choose the fund that represents your anticipated year of retirement.
collapsed, click to expand | Is there a self-directed brokerage option in my plan? |
For those desiring the most investment flexibility and choice, the Plan offers Fidelity BrokerageLink®, a self-directed brokerage account, which provides you with the opportunity to select from thousands of mutual funds beyond those offered in the standard plan lineup. More information about BrokerageLink®, including an overview, the commission schedule, and a fact sheet that outlines the Plan-level restrictions and other settings, is available online at NetBenefits. Click on "Quick Links," then select "BrokerageLink."
collapsed, click to expand | Can I take a loan from my account? |
Generally, the University of Utah 403(b) Plan allows you to borrow up to 50% of your vested account balance. The minimum loan amount is $1,000, and a loan must not exceed $50,000. You then pay the money back into your account, plus interest, through after-tax payroll deductions. Any outstanding loan balances over the previous 12 months may reduce the amount you have available to borrow. You may have 2 loan(s) outstanding at a time. The cost to initiate a loan is $35, and there is a quarterly maintenance fee of $3.75. The initiation and maintenance fees will be deducted directly from your individual plan account. If you fail to repay your loan (based on the original terms of the loan), it will be considered in “default” and treated as a distribution, making it subject to income tax and possibly to a 10% early withdrawal penalty. Defaulted loans may also impact your eligibility to request additional loans. Be sure you understand the Plan guidelines and impact of taking a loan before you initiate a loan from your plan account.
Learn more about and/or request a loan online, or by calling the Fidelity Retirement Benefits Line at 1-800-343-0860.
collapsed, click to expand | Can I make withdrawals? |
Withdrawals from the Plan are generally permitted when you terminate your employment, retire, reach age 59½, become permanently disabled, or have a severe financial hardship, as defined by your plan.
Learn more about and/or request a withdrawal online, or by calling the Fidelity Retirement Benefits Line at 1-800-343-0860.
collapsed, click to expand | Can I move money from another retirement plan into my account in the University of Utah 403(b) Plan? |
You are permitted to roll over eligible pretax and after-tax contributions from another 401(k) plan, Roth 401(k) plan, 401(a) plan, 403(b) plan, Roth 403(b) plan, a governmental 457(b) retirement plan, or a Roth 457(b) retirement plan account or eligible pretax contributions from another conduit individual retirement accounts (IRAs). A conduit IRA is one that contains only money rolled over from an employer-sponsored retirement plan that has not been mixed with regular IRA contributions.
Additional information can be obtained online, or by calling the Fidelity Retirement Benefits Line at 1-800-343-0860.
Be sure to consider all your available options and the applicable fees and features of each before moving your retirement assets.
collapsed, click to expand | How do I designate my beneficiary? |
If you have not already selected your beneficiaries, or if you have experienced a life-changing event such as a marriage, divorce, birth of a child, or a death in the family, it’s time to consider your beneficiary designations. Fidelity’s Online Beneficiaries Service, offers a straightforward, convenient process that takes just minutes. To make your elections, click on the “Profile & Settings” icon in the upper right-hand corner, then select “Beneficiaries” and follow the online instructions.
collapsed, click to expand | Where can I find information about exchanges and other plan features? |
Learn about loans, exchanges, and more online. In particular, you can access loan modeling tools that illustrate the potential impact of a loan on the long-term growth of your account. You will also find a withdrawal modeling tool, which shows the amount of federal income taxes and early withdrawal penalties you might pay, along with the amount of earnings you could potentially lose by taking a withdrawal. Additional information can be obtained by calling the Fidelity Retirement Benefits Line at 1-800-343-0860.