1.  TIAA-CREF

For more than 85 years, TIAA-CREF has been helping millions of people working in the academic, medical, and cultural fields plan for their retirement.  Their clear and long-held commitment to serve those who dedicate themselves to the benefit and enlightenment of others remains unchanged.

With their nonprofit heritage, TIAA-CREF has long subscribed to a different set of guiding principles directly influenced by the people they serve.  With the experience of managing over $400 billion in combined assets, their approach to investing goes beyond sound portfolio management.  They are mindful of their social responsibilities.  And they stay focused on the best interests of their participants.

The mission they embarked on in 1918 still rings true today.  TIAA-CREF is one of the few certainties in a shifting financial world.  They were there when you began your career helping others.  And they will be there when you're ready to retire.

After you've enrolled with TIAA-CREF, you can access your account information in 3 ways:

Contact them online at www.tiaa-cref.org to:

• Change allocation of future contributions.

• Transfer existing assets.

• Sign up for e-delivery of statements, transactions confirmations and prospectuses.

Call them at 1-800-842-2776 to speak with a TIAA-CREF Consultant.

Call their automated telephone service for automated transactions such as allocation changes or transfer, or to find out the latest variable annuity unit values and TIAA Traditional interest rates, call 1-800-842-2252 anytime, day or night.

For more complete information about TIAA-CREF, check out their homepage at www.tiaa-cref.org

2.  VALIC

When you choose VALIC as your plan provider, you can get as much or as little individual help as you want in planning and investing for your retirement.  Your financial advisor frequently visits on campus and is available to meet with you in person or by phone at your convenience. 

VALIC is dedicated to helping you plan for the future by offering objective and expert retirement planning and advice, as well as a choice from among a vast array of products and services.  They provide ongoing support through a comprehensive financial education program that continues through all life stages.  It's what they call The Power of Service.

Experience

• Industry leader with 50 years experience
• 28,000 for-profit and not-for-profit groups in more than 41,000 locations

Financial Strength

• More than $50 billion in total assets
• Nearly 2 million investors
• High ratings from leading independent industry analysts

Planning

• Person, face-to-face service
• Help clients recognize and plan for all life's financial challenges

Advice

• Proven investment management expertise
• Objective and expert investment advisory and asset management services customized for you

Choice

• A gateway to a world of financial products and services
• Face-to-face consultations with financial advisor
• High-tech, high-touch approach to enrollment
• State-of-the-art voice response system and online services
• Access 24/7

After you've enrolled with VALIC, you can access your account information by visiting www.aigvalic.com or call 1-800-892-5558 x. 88672.

For more complete information about VALIC, please call 1-800-448-2542 or go to www.aigvalic.com.

3.  PERSI

The Public Employee Retirement System of Idaho (PERSI) is a defined benefit retirement plan designed to provide meaningful retirement benefits for employees who choose careers in public service. Because it is a defined benefit plan, the lifetime allowance you receive at retirement is not directly dependent on the amount of money you contribute to PERSI.

PERSI membership is made up of employer units and their employee members throughout the state. By law, the State of Idaho and school districts are PERSI members.

When you begin working for a PERSI employer unit and you meet the basic requirements for membership, you automatically become an active member of the Retirement System. Your employer will take a designated amount from your paycheck every pay period and will deposit that money, along with your employer's contribution, into a retirement fund.

Membership:

You automatically become a member of PERSI if:

• Your employer belongs to PERSI and

• You normally work 20 hours or more per week and your employment is for five or more consecutive months.

You are not eligible to join PERSI if:

• Your employment period does not total five consecutive months, or

• You are a faculty or a non-classified employee of Lewis-Clark State College. EXCEPTION: If you were a PERSI member immediately before your date of hire, you may remain in PERSI.

Contributions:

Your rate of contribution to PERSI - the amount that is deducted from your paycheck each month - is, by statute, a percentage of the employer contribution rate. The employer contribution rate is set by the Retirement Board. Its decision is based on several factors: the system benefit levels, how many members are in the system, the age and average life expectancy of those members and the system's unfunded liability.

Contribution Rate as a Percent of Pay:

• General Member - 6.23%

• General Employer - 10.39%

For more information, please look at www.persi.state.id.us or call 800-451-8228.

4.  PERSI Choice Plan 401(k)

Joining the PERSI Choice Plan 401(k) may be one of the smartest moves you'll ever make.  It would be hard for you to find a faster, easier way to accumulate money for the future.  And, the sooner you join, the more substantial that money can be.

One of the most important features of the PERSI Choice Plan is its tax advantage.  When you save with pre-tax dollars, you do not pay federal income tax on that money until it is withdrawn.  So, you have the opportunity to earn investment returns on money that normally would immediately go to the government.  Because your pre-tax contributions are deducted from your pay before federal income taxes are figured, your current taxable income is lowered.  You will pay less taxes out of your paycheck and you defer taxes on your contributions until you take a distribution from the Plan.

Who can Join

All active PERSI Base Plan members may immediately join the PERSI Choice Plan 401(k). 

How to Begin Payroll Deductions

To begin making pre-tax contributions, complete a Choice Plan 401(k) Deferral Election Form and return it to Human Resource Services.

Vesting

Vesting is your "ownership" of your Choice Plan funds.  You are 100% vested to all money in your Choice account.

If you need help understanding any other terms call a Choice Plan Representative at 1-866-437-3774 or visit http://www.persi.idaho.gov/Choice.htm to learn more about this plan.

5.  Supplemental Retirement Accounts

As an employee of Lewis-Clark State College, you are eligible to participate in a variety of pre-tax and post-tax investment options.  If you would like more information about the investment options, please contact Lori Gaskill at 792-2269 or visit your Human Resource Services Office.  To begin making contributions, complete a Salary Reduction Agreement Form and return it to Human Resource Services.

INVESTMENTS - POST TAX:

• Putnam Roth IRA

• The Franklin Funds

• Waddell & Reed

403B TAX SHELTER PLANS - PRE TAX:

• Fidelity Management Trust Company

• General American Life Insurance Company

• Horace Mann Life Insurance Co.

• Investors Diversified Service

• John Alden Life Insurance

• Investment Services Inc.

• Safeco Life Insurance Co.

• State Farm Life Insurance

• TIAA-CREF

• United of Omaha

• Valic

• Waddell & Reed

457 TAX SHELTER PLANS - PRE TAX:
(Deferred Compensation Plans)

• PEBSCO

• Hartford 457