TIAA — Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America — holds the highest possible AM Best rating (A++) and a Comdex score of 100, putting it alongside New York Life at the very top of financial strength rankings. Founded in 1918 to serve educators and researchers, TIAA manages over $1.3 trillion in assets and offers one of the most distinctive annuity products in the market: a guaranteed fixed annuity with a consistent dividend history that has paid a rate above its guaranteed minimum every year since the 1950s.
This review covers TIAA’s financial strength, annuity product lineup, who can access their products, and contact information.
TIAA at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Legal Name | Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America |
| Headquarters | New York, New York |
| Founded | 1918 |
| Company Structure | Non-profit (legally organized for the benefit of participants) |
| AM Best Rating | A++ (Superior) — highest possible |
| S&P Rating | AA+ (Very Strong) |
| Moody’s Rating | Aaa (Exceptional) |
| Comdex Score | 100 out of 100 |
| Total Assets Under Management | $1.3+ trillion |
| Products Offered | Traditional (Fixed) Annuity, Variable Annuity, CREF, Retirement Income |
| Eligibility | Employees of educational, research, medical, and nonprofit organizations |
| Minimum Premium | Varies by employer plan |
TIAA’s Financial Strength
TIAA holds the highest rating from every major agency simultaneously — AM Best A++, S&P AA+, Moody’s Aaa — tied only with New York Life for the most complete set of top-tier ratings among U.S. annuity carriers. Its Comdex composite score of 100 is the maximum achievable.
Unlike publicly traded insurers or even most mutual companies, TIAA operates as a non-profit organization legally required to benefit its participants. The company has never paid a shareholder dividend; all surplus is retained for participant benefit and financial strength. The TIAA Traditional Annuity has credited a rate above its guaranteed floor every year since 1949 — a record few products of any type can match.
What Types of Annuities Does TIAA Offer?
- TIAA Traditional Annuity (Fixed) — TIAA’s flagship product is a guaranteed fixed annuity that provides a guaranteed minimum crediting rate plus potential additional amounts declared annually. It is one of the most conservative and durable fixed annuity products in existence.
- Lifetime Income Annuity — TIAA offers guaranteed lifetime income annuities that convert retirement savings into guaranteed monthly income. Income can be structured for single life, joint life, or with a period certain.
- CREF Accounts — College Retirement Equities Fund variable annuity accounts offer market-linked returns for participants comfortable with investment risk within their retirement accounts.
Who Can Access TIAA Products?
TIAA products are available exclusively to employees of educational institutions, research organizations, medical centers, and other qualifying nonprofit organizations. You cannot purchase TIAA annuities through an independent agent or direct consumer platform. If your employer participates in a TIAA retirement plan, you access TIAA through that plan.
If you are a teacher, professor, researcher, hospital employee, or work at a qualifying nonprofit, TIAA is worth a very close look — particularly for the Traditional Annuity’s unique crediting history and the A++ financial strength behind it.
The TIAA Traditional Annuity — What Makes It Unique
The TIAA Traditional Annuity is not a standard MYGA. It is a participating fixed annuity — meaning it guarantees a minimum rate but has historically credited significantly above that floor. Since 1949, TIAA has credited above its guaranteed minimum every year. No other product in the annuity market has a comparable track record.
The annuity is available in two forms: accumulating (during your working years) and payout (converting to lifetime income in retirement). The combination of TIAA’s investment scale, non-profit structure, and 100+ years of crediting history makes this product genuinely distinctive from anything available in the open MYGA market.
Who Is TIAA Best For?
- Educators, researchers, and nonprofit employees who qualify for TIAA access through their employer. If you have access to TIAA, it should be evaluated seriously for its unmatched ratings and track record.
- Clients approaching retirement who want to convert a large TIAA accumulation into lifetime income through a TIAA annuity payout.
- Rating-first clients who qualify for TIAA access — no carrier in the consumer market can claim better financial strength ratings.
Note: TIAA products are not available to the general public. For clients who don’t qualify for TIAA, New York Life and MassMutual are the closest equivalents in terms of financial strength. Request a free comparison quote from My Annuity Store to see how top-rated open-market carriers compare.
Contact TIAA
| Contact Method | Details |
|---|---|
| Website | www.tiaa.org |
| Customer Service | 1-800-842-2252 |
| Mailing Address | Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America 730 Third Avenue New York, NY 10017 |
| Hours | Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–10 p.m. ET; Saturday 9 a.m.–6 p.m. ET |
Don’t Qualify for TIAA? My Annuity Store compares the best open-market annuities from New York Life, MassMutual, Athene, and 20+ other top-rated carriers. Get a free comparison quote or call 855-583-1104.
