Life Events - Beneficiary

It is important to keep a record of your beneficiary designations and to update them whenever your circumstances change. Before you submit your beneficiary designation, check with your financial advisor, custodian, or attorney to determine whether it will produce the results that you desire. Keep a copy of all beneficiary designations and review them periodically. You may change your beneficiary designations at any time.

How Change Your Beneficiary Designations

It is important to note that there are separate beneficiary designation forms for the life insurance plan, the TIAA-CREF retirement savings plan, and the Fidelity retirement savings plan. You must complete a separate beneficiary designation form for each plan in which you are enrolled. If you have money in both TIAA-CREF and Fidelity retirement accounts, you must complete a separate beneficiary form for each account.

Group Life Insurance

To change your life insurance beneficiary, complete and submit a Beneficiary for Group Life Insurance form.

TIAA-CREF Retirement Savings Plan

To change your TIAA-CREF retirement savings plan beneficiary, visit the TIAA-CREF Web site at:
http://www.tiaa-cref.org/support/forms/topics/benchange/interstitial/designation_of_benef.html.
Or contact a TIAA-CREF representative by calling 800-842-2776, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., or Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Eastern time.

Fidelity Retirement Savings Plan

To change your Fidelity retirement savings plan beneficiary, complete the Fidelity Investments 403(b)/401(a) Beneficiary Designation form (PDF).
To change your beneficiary for the 457(b) Deferred Compensation Plan with Fidelity Investments, complete the Fidelity Investments 457 or Nonqualified Beneficiary Designation form (PDF).

If you have questions, contact a Fidelity Retirement Services Specialists by calling 800-343-0860, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to midnight, Eastern time.

Questions?

If you have any questions, you may call the HR/Payroll Service Center at 734-615-2000 or 1-866-647-7657 (toll free), Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The HR/Payroll Service Center cannot provide legal advice.

Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the benefits information in this site. However, if any provision on the benefits plans is unclear or ambiguous, the Benefits Office reserves the right to interpret the plan and resolve the problem. If any inconsistency exists between this site and the written plans or contracts, the actual provisions of each benefit plan will govern. The University of Michigan in its sole discretion may modify, amend, or terminate the benefits provided with respect to any individual receiving benefits, including active employees, retirees, and their dependents.