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Investments Offered in SCRP

You can make contributions directly to your retirement savings account from your paycheck and select investment options.

To do so, set up an account using the My Retirement Savings portal, which is administered by Fidelity for the university, and take these steps:

  • Decide how to invest your contributions.
  • Through My Retirement Savings, select a variety of passive and active funds or open a brokerage account that gives you access to over 4,500 additional mutual funds.
  • To invest in options offered by TIAA, first enroll in My Retirement Savings, then complete a TIAA contract, and make your investment funding elections.
  • Manage your accounts online through My Retirement Savings or by phone.

Need help? We provide many resources to help you plan for your retirement. Sign up for one-on-one counseling with an investment provider, participate in a workshop, or listen to a webinar to learn more about how your contributions and investments can meet your savings goals. View Workshops & Guidance.

Your Choice or Default

You have a choice of investment options for your own contributions as well as the basic and matching contributions you receive from Stanford. If you do not make an investment election or complete the TIAA contract, your contributions and Stanford’s will default into an age-appropriate Target Retirement Fund. The defaulted contributions stay there until you make an investment election and move the account balance out.

Your Accepted Risk

As a participant, you accept all investment risks. Your Pre-tax contributions, non-qualified Roth After-tax earnings, and university contributions are subject to tax at the time of distribution. You are strongly encouraged to read the entire prospectus, descriptions, and disclosure materials related to each investment option under the plan before making an investment decision.

Four SCRP Investment Options

The four investment options of the Stanford Contributory Retirement Plan (SCRP) are designed to meet investors’ diverse needs. Whether you are new to investing, a savvy financial planner, or looking for a hands-off approach, our investment lineup can help you meet your financial goals.

Invest in any or all of the four options outlined below. You may transfer existing balances at any time, subject to restrictions imposed by the investment providers or contracts. You may change your investment selections each pay period for your future contributions.

1. Target Retirement Funds

These funds offer a simple and streamlined way to invest. Choose one ready-made portfolio that best fits your retirement time horizon as well as your tolerance for risk. If you do not select an investment when joining the plans, your contributions will be directed into the age-appropriate Target Retirement Fund.

2. Core Funds

Actively and passively managed mutual funds are available for you to choose from in six broad asset classes. The passively managed Core Funds allow you to track segments of the overall market and diversify your assets with lower expenses than actively managed funds.

3. Annuity Contracts

There's currently one annuity product offered through TIAA:

  • TIAA Traditional Annuity


4. Expanded Choices Brokerage

Over 4,500 mutual funds are offered through Fidelity BrokerageLink®, Fidelity’s self-directed brokerage service.

Important: When you select this option, you must sign a statement that acknowledges you are investing at your own risk and you understand these funds are not reviewed, selected, endorsed, or monitored by Stanford’s Retirement Program Investment Committee or any plan fiduciary. 

You take sole responsibility for:

  • Overseeing and managing your investments
  • Making all investment decisions
  • Paying all fees associated with maintaining the account


Effective August 15, 2022, whenever the same mutual fund is offered in the SCRP core fund line-up and Fidelity BrokerageLink®, the plan will not allow investment in the BrokerageLink funds. This restriction applies to all types of contributions (including payroll deductions, rollover contributions, etc.). 

Consult with a brokerage account representative to discuss what fees may be associated with the investment options you plan to hold in your brokerage account.