TIAAReviews of tiaa.org

Wealth advisor frequently out of the office; his assistant lacks screens (views) needed. Phone coverage is nearly always an answering device which may or may not return a message on the same day. Information needed to guide future investments is either in an unknown online category or has to be specifically requested. There is a perceptible lack of knowledge among the representatives/assistants who used to be well trained. They successfully handled a variety of transactions during the first phone call. Leaving messages and sorting through an ever changing online menu were not necessary. Overall, the present system is slow to respond and not customer friendly a high percentage of the time. I was told to not invest $5K on the basis that I may need it for an emergency. How about investing it in a liquid account to withdraw when such an event occurs? I believe the advice I was given was short-sighted. It begs the question if other TIAA small time investors are so advised?

This company is super competent when you are building your retirement and they receive your contributions. But the first time you attempt to set up withdrawals they become utterly incompetent. It is a disgrace.

For a month I have been making weekly calls to TIAA about a withdrawal I'm trying from my retirement funds. Each week I speak to a different associate who tells me the same thing: My request needs further processing, and my money will be delivered in five-seven business days. Twice I've been told they tried to make the transaction, but it was rejected by TIAA's internal system. I've been putting money into TIAA since 1990, and it's like the Seinfeld bit on renting a car--they know how to take the money in, they don't know how to send it out. It's funnier on TV...

I am deeply dissatisfied with the customer service I have received this time around at TIAA. I wanted to roll over the funds in my Kansas Boatd of Regents account to a traditional TIAA IRA. It took almost two weeks because various members of my team were often unable to help me with the problematic Planwithease process required by the Regents. They often gave inadequate and/or contradicting advice. Also, no one adequately explained the IRA. When the process was finally over, I discovered that my TIAA IRA was basically a savings account that stayed the same and wasn't invested as my Kansas Board of regents account was. Had I known that, I would have stayed with my Board of Regents account and continued to put up with the difficult Planwithease. When I called today, I was given a third number to call to get an appointment to fix the problem. However, the first appointment I can get is June 12! Until then, my account won't make any money and the money in it is invested in nothing. Everyone was pleasant, but each person changed advice during the rollover. I have a TIAA annuity which I can't change, but I am considering withdrawing the money from the TIAA IRA and using a different company altogether. I have had bad advice off and on throughout my many years with TIAA. That fact is disappointing.

I have been trying to transfer my account for 1 month. The funds have been sitting with them for 1 month without any communication except for when I call. I have been on the phone with them multiple times, and they have been unable to tell me what is wrong. When I provided an updated address for them to mail the check to the new account, because they do not do electronic transfers in 2026, the agent I spoke to did not update and send the funds, and another 2 weeks went by without movement. I still do not have my funds. There have been no apologies or acknowledgement of errors. This has been incredibly frustrating, and I will not be investing with them again. I recommend avoiding TIAA.

Tried to setup an annuity. Eveytime we call we get a different story and more needed paperwork that was not disclosed on the prior call. Every call results in at least an hour of your time as you are constantly put on hold. I would not recommend them.

If you have money with TIAA, get it out, and run like your hair is on fire! The worst customer service, a failing company, difficult at best website and phone system. I have been trying for 2 months to get MY MONEY transferred to a company my job now works with. They keep telling me. I do not have permission to move MY MONEY! The other agency has contacted TIAA and explained the process and my employer has called and explained the process and still they are holding onto MY MONEY! Get away from the ASAP! I may end up contacting a Attorney to get WHAT BELONGS TO ME! The customer service would be better if my grandson was on the other end. They are RUDE, ENTITLED and act like the money (MY MONEY ) is there's. They horrible communication skills.

I attempted to do rollover from Fidelity to TIAA. 3 months later I still get the run around talking to incompetent TIAA staff and listening to shopping music for a long time just to get the wrong information once again. Then they will mail you another wrong form by mail so I'm not sure what the portal is for. I lost many hours on the phone completing form after form w/ no real solution to a simple task such as rollover. So much agitation. They don't even have a manager to reach to discuss solutions so no accountability.