CSU offers employees the opportunity to contribute to voluntary tax-deferred investment accounts. These accounts can supplement your basic retirement plan.

Colorado State University (CSU) is a public education institution eligible to offer a voluntary retirement savings program as described under section 403(b) of the Internal Revenue Code (also referred to as a “403(b) Plan”). Colorado PERA also provides two voluntary retirement savings programs: a 457 plan and a 401(k) plan.

Comparison of Available Programs

• All non-student employees can participate in CSU’s 403(b) Plan through Fidelity Investments, TIAA and AIG.
• All employees can participate in PERA’S 457 Plan and/or PERA’s 401(k) Plan. (For more information, visit the PERA website or call 800-759-7372.)

403(b) Election/Payroll Form

Under the 403(b) plan, eligible employees may contribute on a pre-tax basis, in which investment earnings grow tax-deferred until they are distributed. The employee is responsible for investigating and selecting an investment service program (vendor) and investments from among the vendors available under the plan.

CSU has established relationships with three vendors to provide 403(b) arrangements for both “Traditional” and “Roth” accounts.  A Traditional account is funded with pre-tax contributions and a Roth is funded with after-tax contributions.

Regulatory Notices/Memos: 

• Universal Availability
• 9/18/07
• 10/24/08

401(k) Election/Payroll Form
401(k) Form for Non-PERA Members

PERA manages the 401(k) plan. To participate, complete a salary deferral election form and the necessary PERA application. New enrollments/changes are due by the 10th day of the month for the change to be effective for that monthly payroll cycle.

457 Form for Non-PERA Members

This plan is managed and administered by Colorado PERA and is available to all CSU employees.  

Your initial enrollment form must be submitted to PERA. You will then be sent a secure PIN by PERA which allows you to complete the enrollment process online and to make future changes to contribution amounts or fund selections. Payroll deductions are initiated the month following completion of the online enrollment process.

Retirement Manager
Requesting a loan from your 403(b) account is completed through the online Retirement Manager portal. This software helps ensure that Internal Revenue Service (IRS) regulations relating to eligibility, limits and coordination among vendors are adhered to. The Quick Reference Guide contains instructions for logging into the system and generating an “Eligibility Certificate” which you will provide to your vendor(s) to effect the loan or hardship withdrawal.

Although Retirement Manager is developed and maintained by AIG/VALIC, all three vendors provide data on a regular basis to the system. While each vendor may request specific documentation of the need for a loan/hardship withdrawal as required by the IRS, the “Eligibility Certificate” is their assurance of your eligibility.

403(b)
Employees may request a loan or hardship withdraw from their 403(b) account(s) with:

• Fidelity
• TIAA-CREF
• AIG/VALIC