Benefits Orientation
UW Retirement Plan (UWRP) Enrollment
General Enrollment Information
Note: This page applies only to UW faculty, academic staff, librarians and professional staff.
If you are not in this group go back to the Retirement Plans web page and select the appropriate appointment type.
Reminders:
- You may enroll immediately upon eligible employment,
or any time during the next two years.
- You
will automatically be enrolled in a default account
with Vanguard if you have not enrolled in the UWRP within two years of eligibility. Payroll deductions begin at the time of enrollment.
Pre-enrollment
Note: While the University provides
educational information and tools to help you make choices
that suit your individual goals, the University cannot
provide investment advice to employees.
- Review the UWRP plan details.
- Review and compare the investment options offered by Fidelity,
TIAA-CREF and Vanguard.
- Decide whether you want to invest with one or more fund
sponsors.
- Decide how you would like to allocate your investments
to maximize
your retirement savings.
UWRP Enrollment
UWRP enrollment is a two-part process. Part one is the completion of UW required forms. Part two is fund sponsor enrollment. Both parts must be received to establish a UWRP account.
Your contributions
will deducted from your second paycheck of the month if the Benefits Office has received two items before the 15th of the month—your UW paperwork from "Part One" below and notification from your Fund
Sponsor that your account has been Established. Otherwise, your contributions will be deducted from the first paycheck of the following month.
Even if you have an existing account with one of the UWRP fund sponsors, you are required to set up a UWRP-specific account.
Review Investment Funds
Review the list of UWRP funds and decide how you would like to allocate your investment. Before investing in mutual funds, carefully read the prospectus available at the following fund sponsor websites.
Part One - Complete UW Forms
Follow these steps to complete the required UW forms:
- Download, print and complete the UWRP Enrollment form. The IRS calls this form a "Salary Reduction
Agreement" (SRA). It is required to begin, change or
redistribute your UWRP deductions.
- If you are age 50 or older and wish select the 10% contribution option, then download, print and complete the UWRP Increased Contribution form.
- Complete, print and sign the document(s) and return to the UW Benefits Office, Box 359556.
Part Two - Complete Fund Sponsor Enrollment
- Open an account with one or more of the UWRP fund sponsors by completing an online account application for Fidelity and TIAA-CREF and/or a paper application form for Vanguard.
You can contribute to one or more fund sponsors. For
each fund sponsor you choose, you must complete a
separate account application.
- Follow the instructions on the fund sponsor's website
or PDF form.
- Report any problems about using a fund sponsor's
enrollment page to the Benefits Help/Email Portal web page.
- Print a copy of your fund sponsor contract to keep for
your records. The UW automatically receives its own
electronic copy.
