Search found 360 matches

by raywax
Sat Dec 12, 2015 5:53 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: QSPIX - thoughts on interesting fund
Replies: 1753
Views: 291452

Re: QSPIX - thoughts on interesting fund

Larry,

I find it very helpful. Thanks.

Ray
by raywax
Fri Dec 11, 2015 6:54 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: QSPIX - thoughts on interesting fund
Replies: 1753
Views: 291452

Re: QSPIX - thoughts on interesting fund

matjen wrote:Up .66% today which I am sure Grap enjoyed. I am still at 5%.
He is not the only one! Right now to me it looks like a good place to hide a substantial share of one's portfolio.

Ray
by raywax
Fri Nov 06, 2015 12:23 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: TIAA Real Estate Account (TREA)
Replies: 54
Views: 10667

Re: TIAA Real Estate Account (TREA)

I once asked a T-T WMA (Wealth Management Advisor) what share the REA (TIAA Real Estate Account) was of WMAs personal portfolios. I remember her response; it varied from 0 to 100%.

Ray
by raywax
Tue Oct 13, 2015 6:03 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Is Wade Pfau right about annuities over [bond funds] in a retirement portfolio?
Replies: 67
Views: 11784

Re: Is Wade Pfau right about annuities over bonds in a retirement portfolio?

It has worked for us but I did this on my own via a set of annuities spread over the past 11 years. I am now 77 and my last annuity, a variable one with T-C, was done last year. I have kept equity at about 50%; this excludes another 20% in the TIAA Real Estate Account.

Ray
by raywax
Sun Oct 11, 2015 3:25 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: TIAA real estate
Replies: 59
Views: 9229

Re: TIAA real estate

grok87 wrote:
Valuethinker wrote:
but it seems really hard to find good state info for the entire real estate market- ie not just REITs.
You only get it at its quarterly report; I forget what they are called but they include every property owned; it also should be in the prospectus but the quarterly reports are usually more update.

Ray
by raywax
Sun Sep 06, 2015 6:23 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Help with retired parents' portfolio - TIAA experts welcome!
Replies: 44
Views: 4170

Re: Help with retired parents' portfolio - TIAA experts welcome!

whomever said,

-if you do a TIAA annuity, look at the 'graded' option, which is kinda-sorta supposed to keep up with inflation

I understand what he is saying but technically it is incorrect as TIAA makes no such claim and in fact have said so in various publications. In general it lags the national inflation rate somewhat. I happen to use it but in recent years there has been little if any inflation. In high inflation years - early 1980s - it lagged the national inflation rate. I don't have sources for this but some of the participants in the TIAA-CREF forum might have it.

ray
by raywax
Sun May 10, 2015 8:52 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: TIAA Traditional question
Replies: 18
Views: 2302

Re: TIAA Traditional question

sawhorse wrote:My experience with the written secure messages on the TIAA website have been very good so that's also worth investigating.
I would second sawhorse on this. In general if one does not have a WMA at T-C and the problem is fairly straight forward and can be explained in writing, sending an e-mail from within your T-C Account is most likely to produce a correct answer. Phone calls have been known to provide incorrect information at times.

Ray
by raywax
Sat May 02, 2015 9:18 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Library offers free access to M* research center
Replies: 2
Views: 718

Re: Library offers free access to M* research center

I contacted three local libraries and one had it. Yet when I tried to use it I got a message that all the licenses were in use. So yes but getting to one is by no means guaranteed once you find one.

Ray
by raywax
Fri May 01, 2015 8:05 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: TREA Limits
Replies: 11
Views: 1545

Re: TREA Limits

What Wizard says will work IF the money in IRA accounts is at TIAA-CREF. If not you have to move the money their first. Also the Systematic Transfer has to be set up and executed by your WMA, which of course assumes she has one. If not contact T-C and I assume they will assign one and then the Systematic Transfer can be executed.

Ray
by raywax
Fri May 01, 2015 7:58 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: CREF Stock R3 Fund - Variable Annuity?
Replies: 16
Views: 5975

Re: CREF Stock R3 Fund - Variable Annuity?

[quote="sawhorse"]

For many years, TIAA CREF participants were defaulted into 50% TIAA Traditional, 50% CREF Stock.

That may have been true but it was not true in 1969 when I became invested in T-C. I elected 75% Stock and 25% Traditional Account, so it was not the case then at least not across all institutions.

Ray
by raywax
Tue Apr 28, 2015 8:24 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Asset allocation portfolio program with TIAA CREF?
Replies: 8
Views: 1252

Re: Asset allocation portfolio program with TIAA CREF?

As a large part of my portfolio is with TIAA CREF, an asset analyzer is of limited use if it can't handle those holdings.

Are there any programs for people in this situation? Does the paid version of Morningstar X-ray do this?[/quote]

I have a Premium subscription to Morningstar and my opinion is the X-Ray function really does not analyze the CRE holdings which is the essence of thee TIAA Real Estate Account.

Check with a few of your local libraries; they may have a paid subscription which allows library patrons to use most (? just a guess on my part) of Morningstar's tools.

Ray
by raywax
Wed Apr 22, 2015 3:50 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Another TREA question
Replies: 6
Views: 897

Re: Another TREA question

House Blend wrote:
BTW, I believe somewhere in the prospectus there are words to the effect that the ER is capped at 2.5%. :shock: Not sure if that is meant to be reassuring.
I also remember the cap of 2.5% and I admit I have not read its prospectus for several years. I consider it to be a theoretical number of no real importance to me.

Ray
by raywax
Thu Mar 12, 2015 6:39 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: TIAA Traditional Annuity as sole fixed income component
Replies: 84
Views: 18886

Re: TIAA Traditional Annuity as sole fixed income component

I did not read the posts in this thread so if this duplicates a previous comment my apology. My advice is for the OPer to enroll in the Morningstar.com TIAA-CREF forum and there good free advice will be shared by posters who for the most part are quite knowledgeable about details of most any aspect of T-C investments; they also will reply to specific questions.

Ray
by raywax
Fri Feb 27, 2015 6:57 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: How to Invest in Gold
Replies: 70
Views: 12392

Re: How to Invest in Gold

There are few hard rules in investing and almost none on investing in gold; it is a matter of personal choice. But my personal opinion is 3 - 8% would be a reasonable allocation but I would suggest you start with an allocation on the low side. Gold's prices are quite variable and affected by many factors. In recent years an investment in gold was "costly" in that gold prices have gone down overall while equity investments have increased in value. It is one thing to read this; it is another to have gold decline on days equity goes up and gold diminish your gain. ETF's are the simplest way of investing in gold. GLD invests in gold stored in London and is very liquid; you can trade it when you need to do so. GDX is the ETF for large ...
by raywax
Tue Feb 24, 2015 10:51 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: TIAA-CREF Stock Account 403(b)
Replies: 8
Views: 1441

Re: TIAA-CREF Stock Account 403(b)

If you are indeed interested in the TIAA Real Estate Account I suggest you join the Morningstar TIAA-CREF forum where it is frequently and extensively discussed and followed.

Ray
by raywax
Sun Feb 22, 2015 11:56 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: TIAA-CREF annuities.
Replies: 30
Views: 7942

Re: TIAA-CREF annuities.

RM wrote:


I'm pretty sure that T-C can't do a thing (even if they wanted to, which might not be obvious in this situation) to allow you access to a fund that is not included in your Employer's selected plan.

He is correct. MANY "problems" with TIAA-CREF are not under control of T-C as it is the underlying contract between the employee's institution and T-C which has VARIED restrictions!

Ray
by raywax
Mon Feb 16, 2015 5:43 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: TIAA-CREF dramatically increasing Expense Ratios
Replies: 95
Views: 27923

Re: TIAA-CREF dramatically increasing Expense Ratios

IIRC, and I think I do, the interest rate on the Traditional Account got up to 13% in the high inflation years of the early '80s.

Ray
by raywax
Mon Jan 19, 2015 10:46 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: An alternative to alternative investments [QSPIX]
Replies: 363
Views: 82656

Re: An alternative to alternative investments [QSPIX]

I am curious. Does anyone have some ideas as to how the lifting of the cap on the purchase of Euros, by the Swiss National Bank, and Th.'s forthcoming announcement by the ECB, has had and will have upon QSPIX?

Ray
by raywax
Mon Jan 12, 2015 3:23 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Prognosis On REIT Index Fund
Replies: 9
Views: 3420

Re: Prognosis On REIT Index Fund

The decline in occupied malls did not occur in one year and I would guess the data is largely reflective of 2014 and in it REITS did very well. So I don't think it will have much impact this year. If there is any one thing that might concern me it would be a sharp, fast rise in interest rates but right now, after the last monthly employment report, it does not look very likely that rate will rise appreciably in 2015 yet alone rise rapidly and appreciably. Personally I tend to think they may well decline further which should, if it materializes, should be good for REITS and produce another very good year.

Ray
by raywax
Wed Dec 31, 2014 6:29 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Airlines: Could 2015 be another great year?
Replies: 16
Views: 3024

Re: Airlines: Could 2015 be another great year?

The extent to which an individual airline hedges its fuel costs is important. I think it is American Airlines that does not hedge. As to the others that do I don't know when in a calendar year the can and do change their hedging.

Ray
by raywax
Wed Dec 17, 2014 7:31 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Looking to move inheritance from high-fee advisor
Replies: 30
Views: 4297

Re: Looking to move inheritance from high-fee advisor

The article that this URL will take you does a good job providing an overview of fixed fee advisors: http://thefinancebuff.com/the-average-i ... d-one.html

Ray
by raywax
Mon Dec 15, 2014 7:27 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: DFA
Replies: 8
Views: 1442

Re: DFA

I am guessing but I think I know the advisor who manages your account using DFA Funds. In any case $2,000 annually for $900,000 is an ER of .002222% and that is cheap by any standard. I would not move for that alone. If I am right in my guess I certainly would not move for it.

Ray
by raywax
Thu Dec 11, 2014 9:42 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: 403b providers (NOT portfolio advice)
Replies: 10
Views: 1489

Re: 403b providers (NOT portfolio advice)

I also would endorse TIAA-CREF as it has a large offering of funds and two, while its ERs are not as low as Vanguard, they are reasonable. Also T-C has two unique investments one should consider - the Traditional Account and the TIAA Real Estate Account both of which have been discussed in this forum numerous times. But to summarize, the Traditional Account is a variation of a stable value fund but it preceeds the development of stable value funds. The Traditional Account IN RETIREMENT ACCOUNTS BUT NOT IRAs provides a guaranteed minimum return of 3%; the guarantee is backed by TIAA which has the resources and experience to do so. The Real Estate Account is a direct investment in commercial real estate (CRE) and it is neither equity or fixed...
by raywax
Sat Dec 06, 2014 1:13 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: TIAA Cref Funds--their place in my asset allocation?
Replies: 32
Views: 3378

Re: TIAA Cref Funds--their place in my asset allocation?

You can only make one transfer per quarter from the TREA Account. But as it is not an account that is traded it is not a problem for most in it. I took half out in Dec. 2007 and the remaining half, except for a trivial amount to keep the account active, in Q1 of 2008. I was out a bit early and I did leave some profits on the table but then I did not lose anything invested in it and I got back in in Q2 of 2009 and have been in it since then.

There is a restriction of a maximum of $150,000 INVESTED (contributed) in it but there is a simple way to get around that also.

Again the T-C M* forum is where the expertise lies with it.

Ray
by raywax
Sat Dec 06, 2014 11:21 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: TIAA Cref Funds--their place in my asset allocation?
Replies: 32
Views: 3378

Re: TIAA Cref Funds--their place in my asset allocation?

Among the longer standing (senior) participants in the M* T-C Forum it is not uncommon for them to use the TIAA Traditional Account as their ONLY fixed income investment. I am not saying all do but a significant proportion do so.

Ray
by raywax
Sat Dec 06, 2014 8:57 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: TIAA Cref Funds--their place in my asset allocation?
Replies: 32
Views: 3378

Re: TIAA Cref Funds--their place in my asset allocation?

I would not disagree with Wizard but I would phrase my recommendation on the TREA as at a minimum try and make the TREA 10% of your TOTAL investments.

Ray
by raywax
Fri Dec 05, 2014 2:52 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Help with 401k and 403b
Replies: 9
Views: 1535

Re: Help with 401k and 403b

One comment about the TIAA Real Estate 0.87%. Check to see if this is the TIAA Real Estate Account which is a Variable Annuity. If it is use it! It is a unique account that is a direct investment in commercial real estate held in the account but owned by TIAA. It is really an asset class of its own and is worth investing in. The ER is misleading as it is not only the administrative expense of the account but it also includes the fee for managing and maintaining property held in the account. It is much less volatile than REITS; you can plot at at the TIAA-CREF web site against Vangaurd's REIT ETF VNQ. You can get abundant advice on it if you join the Morningstar Forum for TIAA-CREF and post there. It certainly is worth investing 5 to 10% of ...
by raywax
Mon Dec 01, 2014 7:39 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Some advice on TIAA-CREF (Trad/TREA)
Replies: 7
Views: 1447

Re: Some advice on TIAA-CREF (Trad/TREA)

I would have him increase the TREA until it is at least 10% of his total investments. Depending on the Traditional Account only makes sense for a VERY conservative investor. One way to look at how TREA fits into a portfolio is that in a two sector (equity and bonds only) portfolio half of the REA could be considered fixed income and the other half could be viewed as being equity. Of course in itself it is a separate asset class and 10% is a reasonable allocation to it.

Ray
by raywax
Fri Nov 28, 2014 1:26 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: An alternative to alternative investments [QSPIX]
Replies: 363
Views: 82656

Re: An alternative to alternative investments [QSPIX]

Oneleaf has it right. A specific question was asked and I provided the answer. It did not refer to use of advisor accounts or what can be done at Fidelity.

Ray
oneleaf wrote:
matjen wrote:
raywax wrote:For an individual investor the minimum is having $5,000,000.

Ray
Noooooooooooo it isn't...for like the third time on this thread alone.
raywax was referring to nisiprius question on investing from AQR directly, which I expect is $5M. I hope we all know now that you can get it at Fidelity for a lot less.
by raywax
Thu Nov 27, 2014 3:20 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: An alternative to alternative investments [QSPIX]
Replies: 363
Views: 82656

Re: An alternative to alternative investments [QSPIX]

For an individual investor the minimum is having $5,000,000.

Ray
by raywax
Tue Oct 28, 2014 7:47 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Is a 0.9% wrap fee too high to consider?
Replies: 8
Views: 1302

Re: Is a 0.9% wrap fee too high to consider?

I am not sure of this and thus I could be wrong and this comes from my memory which in terms of investing goes back about 40 years but if I am right the fee that Lincoln charged way back then was in the range of 1-2% and mostly near the higher figure. Take it for what it is worth - not much.

Ray
by raywax
Tue Sep 09, 2014 8:06 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: need help choosing options at TIAA-CREF
Replies: 34
Views: 2848

Re: need help choosing options at TIAA-CREF

I don't think the percent of one's T-C holding is particularly relevant as most (?) of the knowledgeable posters on T-C investments are here because they have investments with T-C and elsewhere including but not limited to Vanguard. Also the knowledgeable T-C posters I recognize are also posters in the T-C forum and are near or in retirement and some of them, myself included, have done partial annuitizations which has reduced the amount we/I have invested in T-C.

Having said all this to answer the question asked 49% of my current T-C investments are in the REA.

Ray
by raywax
Fri Sep 05, 2014 11:22 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Inflation Protected Annuity versus TIPs ladder
Replies: 9
Views: 2157

Re: Inflation Protected Annuity versus TIPs ladder

[quote="bobcat2"] TIPS ladder or Annuitized Income? Example – I have a TIPS ladder that provides $15,000 per year. If I need to spend $25,000 this year I can spend this year’s maturing TIPS and sell $10,000 of next year’s TIPS. The duration risk of TIPS maturing in one year is small. I have a TIPS ladder as per the Example except that mine has "rungs" of two years and a payout value (of about) $30,000 for each two year period. The answer is choose both at retirement. I have several annuities none of which has inflation protection per se but which do have an "adjustment" that will provide some inflation protection. Run the TIPS ladder out to your early or mid 80s. I run my ladder for 10 years and since I am now ...
by raywax
Sun Jul 06, 2014 3:20 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Anyone using TIAA-CREF Brokerage Svcs? Just curious.
Replies: 4
Views: 1189

Re: Anyone using TIAA-CREF Brokerage Svcs? Just curious.

Yes I use it; they have reduced their fee per trade down to $9.95; not cheap but cheaper. I use it to buy stocks and ETFs with my "mad money." Some of my TIPS bonds are also held there. Buying and selling TIPS there is still cumbersome. But since I don't do either very much at all it works for me and I can move money between it and my retirement accounts.

Ray
by raywax
Tue Jun 10, 2014 3:25 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Calling all TIPsters- 5 W's and 1 H of LMP
Replies: 9
Views: 1736

Re: Calling all TIPsters- 5 W's and 1 H of LMP

I have a ladder with two year "steps" (intervals) that I more or less created on the fly starting in 2008 when TIPS were scorned and carrying very good returns. I gobbled up 10 and 20 years TIPS for their RTM. It was not a well thought out strategy but it was a good investment. Thereafter in the past six years I gradually converted those that I retained, sold some to fund RMDs and some for specific years in my ladder, by buying the same number of TIPS using a combination of purchases in the secondary market and the Treasury's initial offerings. I know have it in place for even numbered years from 20116 through 2024 and plan on doing so for a few more steps. Whether this adhoc process is a good way to do it I do now now but it is h...
by raywax
Sat May 03, 2014 9:28 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: TSP vs TIAA-CREF
Replies: 10
Views: 3266

Re: TSP vs TIAA-CREF

[quote="grabiner"] If you have an investment in the TIAA traditional annuity and rates rise, you can transfer it out over nine years, but much of the money will earn the lower rates during those nine years.

Why do you say this? I did a TPA in 2004 and finished it early this year. With one exception, 2009 IIRC, the interest rate I earned throughout the nine years was essentially constant and well above the return from the 10-year Treasury. I grant you this was an exceptional period but the graphs in TIAA's white papers on the Traditional Account show it outperforming the 10-year Treasury.

Ray
by raywax
Sat May 03, 2014 5:07 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: TSP vs TIAA-CREF
Replies: 10
Views: 3266

Re: TSP vs TIAA-CREF

I do not know anything about the TSP but I do know the TIAA Traditional Account which is available in various individual accounts from T-C. TIAA has stated in papers they have published that the objective of the Traditional Account is to match or do better, I think they said the latter, than the 10-year Treasury bond and I remember graphs indicating they have done this. I also know a substantial number of the more experienced older members, myself included, in the Morningstar.com TIAA-CREF forum have used the Traditional Account as their only fixed income investment. Yes in a 403.b RA there is a nine year and one day time period over which one can move money out of the Traditional Account (is is lesser time IIRC in a GRA). But for anyone wh...
by raywax
Sun Apr 13, 2014 11:53 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Use brokerage window for REITS and TIPS?
Replies: 7
Views: 903

Re: Use brokerage window for REITS and TIPS?

[quote="jsandra"]Hi Bogleheads Here is my option for real estate: TIAA Real Estate (ER = 0.90) Here is my option for TIPS: PIMCO Inflation Response Multi-Asset Fund (ER = 0.90) Fortunately, I will soon have a third option: A brokerage window, where I can buy into mutual funds (no individual stocks, bonds, or ETFs allowed) for a $40 annual fee + $35 per transaction. I was considering using this to buy VG REIT Index Adm (ER = 0.10) and VG Inflation Protected Adm (ER = 0.10). I prefer and do use the TIAA Real Estate Account as my principal investment in CRE but I supplement it with VNQ. TIAA has published two white papers in the past arguing that REITS enhance a CRE investment and in fact their Real Estate Account does hold a signifi...
by raywax
Fri Feb 07, 2014 10:04 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Does this TIAA-CREF mix make sense?
Replies: 16
Views: 2021

Re: Does this TIAA-CREF mix make sense?

retiredjg wrote:
bobbobson wrote:1

Real estate funds usually count as stocks. Not sure if TREA is different, but if you read the description of the fund, it should tell you.
I would say that for those who are active in the TIAA-CREF forum at Morningstar the current consensus is to view half of the REA as equity and half as fixed income though we almost all agree it is its own asset class overall.

Ray
by raywax
Sat Feb 01, 2014 10:00 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: TIAA Real Estate and asset allocation -- REIT? Bond?
Replies: 64
Views: 6968

Re: TIAA Real Estate and asset allocation -- REIT? Bond?

[quote="ResearchMed"][quote="Garco"
But there is a NEW restriction in that TIAA-CREF reserves the right to stop any selling if they see fit, which, presumably, they would should there be another 2008 type of situation.

The once per quarter sale rule has been in place for as long as I have been invested in it and that is more than a decade. So has the provision that allows them to stop selling but they did not in 2008 and will not if there is another major downtown in CRE. TIAA itself will provide the liquidity as they did in the recent (2008+) downturn.

Ray
by raywax
Fri Jan 17, 2014 5:24 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: TIAA Traditional vs. Bonds - What would you choose?
Replies: 46
Views: 9287

Re: TIAA Traditional vs. Bonds - What would you choose?

First, thanks for the really helpful responses so far - from opinions as well as additional facts I'm starting to get a better picture of things (and really appreciate the various views). For anyone worried about me steering someone in the wrong direction: (1) I am only one point of input here for them, but (2) better me (I hope) than the adviser they had who pushed the individual I'm talking about into buying the Permanent Portfolio Fund, a few active funds (including at least one with a load) and a small annuity - basically typical hodge-podge of overlapping and overpriced active stuff. I'm going to advise them to get additional advice, regardless, but I want to at least help them get their bearings and understand what they have as best ...
by raywax
Fri Jan 17, 2014 7:53 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: TIAA Traditional vs. Bonds - What would you choose?
Replies: 46
Views: 9287

Re: TIAA Traditional vs. Bonds - What would you choose?

This is only marginally applicable to this thread but here it is anyway. I have two TPAs and I am in the process of annuitizing the remaining investment in both; not a particularly large sum but significant. I started investing in the Traditional Account back in 1969 some some of my investment in it is in pre-1992 vintages which still carry quite high payout interest rates. Using the TIAA on-line calculator I ran it on these two TPAs for a two-life annuity with 100% going to the survivor and a 20-year guarantee and the result I got was equivalent to a return of 8.22% on the amount to be annuitized. Ray PS I am 75. Also here is the URL on the FITCH rating for TIAA Issued yesterday: http://www.fortmilltimes.com/2014/01/16/3224410/fitch-affirm...
by raywax
Fri Dec 06, 2013 10:23 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Allocation in TIAA-CREF
Replies: 27
Views: 3420

Re: Allocation in TIAA-CREF

If your plan is a GSRA, there's no liquidity issue. You can transfer out whenever you want. If your plan is something else, I believe you're subject to the 10-year transfer requirement (although they pay 4% instead of 3% for your loss of liquidity). If you search TIAA Traditional here you'll find a lot of informative threads. Also, the TIAA-CREF forum at Morningstar can give you a lot of information. jbk is correct on the GSRA. In the other plans the only way one can move money out of the Traditional Account is 1) annuitize it (fine when you are retired if you care to do so) or 2) take a TPA (Transition Payout Annuity) that pays out the principal and interest earned in 10 annual payments over a period of nine years and one day. During that...
by raywax
Wed Nov 20, 2013 6:10 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: TIAA Traditional Fees
Replies: 39
Views: 9348

Re: TIAA Traditional Fees

Post your question at the Morningstar TIAA-CREF forum and you will get responses that are knowledgeable. For your information the Traditional Account is supported by the TIAA General Account.

Ray
by raywax
Mon Sep 23, 2013 11:58 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: What are the best funds among the advisor-only funds?
Replies: 6
Views: 1339

Re: What are the best funds among the advisor-only funds?

From AQR I would say ASMOX; their Small Cap Momentum fund. From DFA I like DFSVX - small cap val, DFVEX - US Vector Equity, DFLVX - Large Cap Value and DFCEX - Emerging Markets Core Equity.

Ray
by raywax
Sun Sep 22, 2013 2:34 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: 403b Investment Allocation and Choice
Replies: 14
Views: 1130

Re: 403b Investment Allocation and Choice

The Traditional account cannot be used for rebalancing if it is in a GRA or RA account. If it is in a GSRA or SRA account, it is fully liquid. I suspect that Littlebit knows this. John I have read this criticism for years about TIAA CREF's surrender fee in the GRA and RA accounts on three different boards from investors. I suspect that people are chasing yield and when that happens, they fall prey to the consequences of getting a higher interest payout. There is no surrender fee for the Traditional in an RA Account. Unless you are age 59.5 or older and separated from the funding institution in an RA there are only two ways to access the Traditional Account - to annuitize some part or all of it or to take a Transition Payout Annuity (TPA). ...
by raywax
Sun Sep 22, 2013 11:57 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: 403b Investment Allocation and Choice
Replies: 14
Views: 1130

Re: 403b Investment Allocation and Choice

[quote="littlebit"]Hi all, I am 37, just started saving last year and plan to retire at 67. I am in higher ed, and like many academics am starting retirement saving late. I make 57k a year, my employer contributes 9% of my salary to a 403b. I contribute $400 a month to a Roth 403b. I have 15k in my retirement accounts. Here is my current asset allocation: 20% of my assets in CREF Bond Market 35% in TIAA International Equity Index-Instl class 45% in TIAA Equity Index- Instl Class I have no other income besides my salary. I have two questions though I welcome other comments. 1) Any suggestions on asset allocation? I am trying to keep things simple, and was trying to follow you all's advice when I allocated like this--going a bit mor...
by raywax
Thu Sep 19, 2013 5:49 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Need Help With Allocation in Move to TIAA CREF
Replies: 14
Views: 1594

Re: Need Help With Allocation in Move to TIAA CREF

Renaud, Don't put a dime into TIAA Traditional (assuming the possibility--quite doubtable--that you have access to it), until you understand the restrictions on transfers that apply to your particular flavor(s) of Traditional. If you blindly dump money into it because some knucklehead on the internet told you to do so, you may discover that there are obstacles in the way of your plan to consolidate everything at Vanguard at retirement. P.S. I too am a knucklehead. Yes, this is the "semi-liquid" issue I mentioned above for GRAs. Can take up to 9 years and a day to withdraw/transfer all Trad from a GRA. Hence, open a GSRA ("supplemental") and hold Trad there for rebalancing purposes. And I find it difficult to imagine a 4...
by raywax
Mon Sep 16, 2013 3:34 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: TIAA Real Estate Account, bond-like or Madoff-like?
Replies: 79
Views: 16434

Re: TIAA Real Estate Account, bond-like or Madoff-like?

The appraisal policy for the REA has changed since 2008; it calls for more frequent external appraisals. I think, but am not positive of this, now the policy is for one external appraisal - still done by Real Estate Research - per quarter per property. Some of my colleagues on the M* T-C forum will undoubtedly provide the current appraisal policy.

Ray