403(b) Choices AIG / Fidelity / TIAA-CREF

I work for the California State University system and currently we have five fund families to choose from. I am interested in three of them AIG, Fidelity and TIAA-CREF; however, I am really swaying between the latter two.

The 403(b) / TSA plans that we are being offered can be found at: http://calstate.edu/HR/benefitsportal/tsa/openenroll.shtml

Does anyone have any pearls of wisdom about any of these choices?

Thanks!!

Your choices are not fund families, they are fund companies. If you look at the investment options offered, they are not just offering their own funds. ie Fidelity offers funds from PIMCO, Vanguard, Janus, etc. I would look at each company and see what fund they offer. Find funds you want to invest in.
Also, it says you can invest in any or all of the fund sponsors. Pick what funds you want and pick the sponsor(s) that you will allow you to invest in them.

I work for the California State University system and currently we have five fund families to choose from. I am interested in three of them AIG, Fidelity and TIAA-CREF; however, I am really swaying between the latter two.

The 403(b) / TSA plans that we are being offered can be found at: http://calstate.edu/HR/benefitsportal/tsa/openenroll.shtml

Does anyone have any pearls of wisdom about any of these choices?

Thanks!!

I've been in TIAA Traditional since 1985, and started moving the accumulation to TIAA Real Estate in 1/10th chunks (Transfer Payout Annuity) 3 years ago. The Real Estate Account has started to tank like everything else, so I bailed out to the standard, guaranteed Traditional at 3.5 % until this thing blows over.

Really, the only thing that is making any money is the TIAA Traditional, and that's only making 3.25% (4+% if you don't mind being locked into it).

If you have many years until retirement, then the Real Estate and some of the index funds might be fine.

Track your TIAA portfolio with the T-C Retirement Assistant: http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=299235723&mt=8

It appears that you can choose from any of the TIAA-CREF funds.

Get my TIAA-CREF Retirement Assistant and follow these funds daily from your iPhone or iPod touch - compare various portfolios and see how they are doing in this bear market.
http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=299235723&mt=8

The TIAA Real Estate Account took a huge hit yesterday - so pretty soon it may be a buying opportunity.

I'm so glad I moved my Real Estate Fund holdings into RA. This thing is losing 1% a day.

Following it with my iPhone app, available at http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=299235723&mt=8

I would have lost another $20K in the TIAA Real Estate if I had not bailed and transferred it all into the RA. I'm looking to see when might be a good time to get back in to the Commercial Real Estate account like this.

Track your TIAA-CREF funds, except of course the RA/TA, on your iPhone or iPod touch with T-C Retirement Assistant. Updates continuously; doesn't access your account.

http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=299235723&mt=8