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? |
Visit your University of Houston Human Resources website, follow the link to Retirement@Work to select Fidelity as your University of Houston TDA provider, and choose your contribution amount.
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 as soon as administratively possible.
collapsed, click to expand | How much can I contribute? |
Through automatic payroll deduction, you may contribute between 1% and 100% of your eligible compensation. Visit your University of Houston Human Resources website and follow the link to Retirement@Work to choose your contribution amount.
collapsed, click to expand | What catch-up contribution can I make? |
As long as you have reached or will reach age 50 by year end and are making the maximum plan or IRS contribution, you may make an additional catch-up contribution each pay period. Going forward, catch-up contribution limits will be subject to cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) in $500 increments.
If you have 15 years or more of work experience and have contributed less than $5,000 a year, on average, to your retirement savings plan, you may be able to make additional lifetime catch-up contributions to your plan, allowing you to contribute up to a maximum of $3,000 per year, up to a maximum lifetime benefit of $15,000. Please note, in order to receive the maximum benefit from the age 50 and lifetime catch-up contributions, the lifetime catch-up limit for a calendar year ($3,000) must be used before the Age 50+ Catch-up is applied. Please consult your tax advisor for additional information.
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 TDA Plan, as well as any earnings on them.
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 various 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 TDA 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 Vanguard Target Retirement Fund 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 Houston System.
If no date of birth or an invalid date of birth is on file at Fidelity, your contributions may be invested in the Vanguard Target Retirement Income Fund. More information about the Vanguard Target Retirement Fund 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 investment options 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? |
Although your plan account is intended for the future, you may borrow from your account for any reason.
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 TDA Plan? |
You are permitted to roll over eligible pretax contributions from another 401(k) plan, 401(a) plan, 403(b) plan, or a governmental 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.