Retirement
UNC Charlotte offers several options to help you plan and save for your retirement — including a choice of mandatory retirement plans and a variety of supplemental retirement savings plans. We recommend that throughout your career, you periodically review your financial situation, establish and review retirement goals and adjust supplementary retirement savings programs as necessary.
Important!
As of Sept. 1, 2023, the University moved to TIAA as the single recordkeeper for the UNC System retirement plans. More details about the transition can be found here.
Ready Set Go Presentations
- Retirement Ready, Set, Go! Part 1 (Healthcare Coverage, Supplemental Retirement, NCFlex, and Leave)
- Retirement Ready, Set, Go! Part 2 (Optional Retirement Plan)
- Retirement Ready, Set, Go! Part 3 (TSERS)
Mandatory Retirement Programs
Teachers’ and State Employees’ Retirement System (TSERS)
TSERS is a defined benefit plan — under this plan, the State controls the investment. The benefit you receive at retirement is based on a formula including your age, your average financial compensation and your years and months of creditable service. You as the employee contribute 6% to the plan and the University contributes an amount that is defined by the North Carolina General Assembly.
Optional Retirement Program (ORP)
ORP is a defined contribution plan — under this plan, you control your investments. The benefit you receive at retirement is based on the performance and payment option you choose. You as the employee contribute 6%, and the University contributes 6.84%.
Please note, benefits-eligible employees hired on or after Sept. 1, 2023, may only enroll in TIAA if they select the Optional Retirement Program.
Eligibility
Permanent, full-time employees working 30 or more hours a week are eligible for mandatory retirement plans.
Enrollment Deadline
Benefits-eligible employees hired after Sept. 1, 2023, have 30 days from their hire or newly eligible date to enroll.
Effective Date
First day of eligible employment.
Deduction Frequency
Semi-monthly each check of eligible earnings.
Supplemental Retirement programs
If you want to increase your retirement savings, you can participate in one or more of the following supplemental retirement plans: UNC System 403(b) Plan, UNC System 457(b) Plan, State’s 457 Deferred Compensation Plan and State’s 401(k) Plan (depending on eligibility).
Contribution Limits
| Age Category | 2024 | 2025 |
| Under age 50 | $23,000 | $23,500 |
| Over age 50 catch-up | $7,500 | $7,500 |
The 401(k) and 403(b) contributions are coordinated (combined total cannot exceed the maximum).
The 457 contributions are not coordinated with the 401(k), nor 403(b) (total cannot exceed the maximum). As an alternative to the age 50 catch-up, a participant in the 457 plan is eligible to defer up to twice the contribution limit in effect for the three years preceding the employee’s normal retirement age, subject to eligibility. Contact the NC Total Retirement agent for more details.
Eligibility
| Plan | Eligibility |
| UNC System 403(b) Plan | Employees who pay FICA |
| UNC System 457(b) Plan | Employees who pay FICA |
| State’s 457 Deferred Compensation Plan |
|
| State’s 401(k) Plan | Permanent employees who participate in TSERS or ORP |
Enrollment
You may enroll at any time. Information and forms on how to enroll in each plan can be found at the following links
- UNC System 403(b) (Vendor: TIAA)
- UNC System 457(b) (Vendor: TIAA)
- State’s NC 457 and 401(k) (Vendor: Empower)
Note for UNC System 403(b) and UNC System 457: Check with the vendor to ensure your account is established and ready to receive contributions before completing a salary reduction form for new enrollments.
Send completed forms to UNC Charlotte Benefits Office by fax: 704-687-5254, or mail: 9201 University City Boulevard, Room 207, King Building, Charlotte NC 28223
Deduction Frequency
Semi-monthly based on enrollment.
Processing Timeline:
Eligible employees may enroll, change, or cancel contributions for supplemental retirement plans at any time throughout the year, to be reflected in paychecks according to processing deadlines.
- Deadlines for the Benefits Office to receive hard copy forms, and/or online transactions are noted below:
- 1st day of the month to impact the last check of the month (except new enrollments for 457 plans)*
- 15th day of the month to impact the first check of the next month
- Exceptions:
- *Contributions for new 457 plan enrollments cannot start until the month after the election is made
- Contact the Benefits Office if you have special situations
Contacts
TIAA
Peter Kohn
Financial Consultant
704-988-1580
Peter.kohn@tiaa.org
Contact for: Optional Retirement Plan, UNC System 403(b) Plan, UNC System 457 Plan
NC Total Retirement
Rob Sipprell, CRC®
Retirement Counselor – Education Specialist| North Carolina Total Retirement Plans
704-219-9431 robert.sipprell@empower.com
Contact for: State’s 457(b) Plan and State’s 401(k) Plan
North Carolina Retirement System
North Carolina Retirement System
Phone support is available 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, lunch break from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Don’t want to wait on hold? See the Phone/Web Options tab for the automated phone menu and other ways to quickly find the information you need!
TSERS
(919) 814-4590
Fax: (919) 855-5800
NC 401(k) and NC 457
1-866-NCPlans (1-866-627-5267)
Email
NC Retirement Systems: NC.Retirement@nctreasurer.com
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
- Planning for Retirement
- UNC System Retirement Website
- NCFlex Continuation Options at Separation of Employment
- The PIER: Retirement News You Can Use
- Supplemental Retirement Decision Guide
- Retirement Rates and Limits
- Mandatory Plan Video
- Supplemental Plan Video
- Do you want a tax break? Now? Later? Both? – Interactive Roth Calculator from Empower