To ensure that all information is transferred accurately from your current Plan account(s) at TIAA to your Plan account(s) at
Fidelity, there will be a period of time when you will be unable to direct or diversify investments in your individual accounts
or obtain a loan or distribution from the Plans.
This time, during which you will be unable to exercise your rights otherwise available (see chart on the following page) under the Plans, is called a "blackout period.” The blackout period in the Plans at TIAA will begin at 4:00 p.m. ET on November 4, 2025, and is expected to end on November 17, 2025. During this time, you can determine whether the TIAA blackout has started or ended by contacting TIAA at 800-842-2776.
In the Plans at Fidelity, there will be a blackout period beginning at 4:00 p.m. ET on November 13, 2025, that is
expected to end during the week of November 23, 2025. During this time, you can determine whether the Fidelity
blackout has started or ended by contacting Fidelity at 800-343-0860.
Because you will be unable to direct or diversify your Plan balance during the blackout period, it is very important that you
review and consider the appropriateness of your current investments. For your long- term retirement security, you should
give careful consideration to the importance of a well-balanced and diversified investment portfolio, taking into account all
your assets, income, and investments.
Whether or not you are planning retirement in the near future, we encourage you to carefully consider how this blackout
period may affect your retirement planning and your overall financial plan.
If you have any questions concerning this notice, you should contact the Fidelity Retirement Service Center at P.O. Box
770002, Cincinnati, OH 45277, or by calling 800-343-0860.
Please review this transition calendar on the following page to understand how your account may be affected during the
transition period.
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KEY DATES*
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PLAN ACTIVITY/ACTION STEPS
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September and October 2025
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Sign up for a virtual presentation or a schedule a one-on-one consultation on the Meet with Fidelity page.
Virtual presentations and an expanded calendar of individual consultations with representatives from Fidelity will be available. These sessions are designed to help answer your questions about the changes coming and any actions you need to take.
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October 29, 2025
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ACTIVE EMPLOYEES
The option to direct contributions to TIAA will be removed after this date.
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October 30, 2025, for weekly paid employees
October 31, 2025, for semi-monthly paid employees
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ACTIVE EMPLOYEES
Final contribution for active employees directed to current investment options with TIAA.
After this date, all future 401(a) and 403(b) contributions will be directed to Fidelity according to the charts on the How Investments Will Transfer page.
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November 4, 2025, at 4:00 p.m. (ET)
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ACTIVE AND FORMER EMPLOYEES
BLACKOUT PERIOD BEGINS AT TIAA
This is the last day at TIAA to:
- Request a loan or distribution.
- Request an exchange between investment options.
No new contributions, transfers, or rollovers will be permitted into TIAA after this date.
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November 12, 2025, at 4:00 p.m. (ET)
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ACTIVE AND FORMER EMPLOYEES
For accounts currently at TIAA only: Your eligible TIAA account balances in mutual funds at TIAA are valued at the close of the market. These mutual fund balances at TIAA will transfer to Fidelity using these values.
Your existing TIAA and/or CREF annuity contracts will not be transferred to Fidelity unless you voluntarily choose to move them.
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November 13, 2025
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ACTIVE AND FORMER EMPLOYEES
PARTIAL BLACKOUT PERIOD BEGINS AT FIDELITY
If you currently have a Fidelity account, and have balances transferring from TIAA, you will be unable to do the following in your Fidelity account during the blackout period:
- Complete an exchange (transfer) between investment options.
- Complete a loan or distribution.
You will continue to have access to:
- Review your balance.
- Change your 403(b) deferral percentage.
- Change how your future contributions will be invested at Fidelity.
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November 13, 2025
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Your TIAA mutual fund account balances are scheduled to transfer to Fidelity.
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November 17, 2025
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ACTIVE AND FORMER EMPLOYEES
BLACKOUT PERIOD ENDS AT TIAA (for balances that remain at TIAA)
Access resumes for your fixed and variable annuity balances that did not transfer to Fidelity.
If you maintain an annuity account balance at TIAA, they will continue to charge you plan administrative fees and investment fees for your annuity account.
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During the Week of November 23, 2025
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BLACKOUT PERIOD ENDS AT FIDELITY
You will be notified by email or a postcard and will have full access to your account at Fidelity. For active employees, this means you can exchange (transfer) between investment options, request a loan or hardship, or in-service distribution (if eligible). For terminated employees, this means you can exchange (transfer) between investment options or request a distribution. You may manage your account online through Fidelity NetBenefits® at www.NetBenefits.com/TuftsUniversity or by calling Fidelity at (800) 343-0860.
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*The timing of the plan changes and transition period, including any asset reallocations, described within this site depends on a variety of factors, which may include: The timing and accuracy of the transfer of data, receipt of instructions, and receipt of asserts. Changes in any of these factors may result in changes to the timing of the delivery of services, the transition period, and/or the dates on which, and thus the prices at which, assets in your account are sold and/or reinvested.
