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Human Resources

Retirement

Participation in either the state retirement plan or the optional retirement plan is mandatory.

State of Tennessee Legacy Plan

Faculty / Administrative                 

Participation in either the state retirement plan or the optional retirement plan is mandatory. Both of these plans are non-contributory for the employee.                     

The Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System (TCRS) is a defined benefit plan. It provides for retirement at age 60 with 5 years of service or 30 years of service. There is a 5-year vesting requirement. After five years of employment, there are provisions for a disability requirement. The State pays 15.03% of earnings in your behalf.                     

The Optional Retirement Plan (ORP) is a defined contribution plan. Employees who select the ORP have the flexibility of investing in either one, two, or three companies. The three participating companies are TIAA-CREF, ING, and AIG/VALIC. All contributions are immediately vested, and the State pays the total retirement contribution which is 10% of gross earnings on that portion of salary covered by OASDI (Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance) and 11% of gross earnings not covered by OASDI.                     

Classified Staff

Participation in the state retirement plan is mandatory. This plan is non-contributory for the employee.                     

The Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System (TCRS) is a defined benefit plan. It provides for retirement at age 60 with 5 years of service or 30 years of service. There is a 5-year vesting requirement. After five years of employment, there are provisions for a disability requirement. The State pays 19.66% of earnings in your behalf.   

Additional Information for Retirement                  

State of Tennessee Hybrid Plan

The TCRS pension plan has two components, a defined benefit plan and a defined contribution plan, and accordingly is referred to as the Hybrid Plan.  The defined benefit portion of the plan will be managed by the Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System (TCRS).  The defined contribution component will be administered through the State of Tennessee’s
401(k) plan with record keeping by Great-West Financial.

The TCRS Hybrid plan includes the following components:

  • The TCRS Hybrid Plan Defined Benefit component has two elements, one is the employer contributions of 3.94% and the other is the mandatory employee contributions of 5%
  • The TCRS Hybrid Plan Defined Contribution component, separate from the above Defined Benefit Component, has an additional 5% employer contribution element and a 2% auto enroll employee contribution element with an op-out feature
  • Total Employer contributions will be approximately 9% per pay period and total Employee contributions will be 5% with 2% opt-out on the Defined Contribution component

In addition to the TCRS Hybrid Plan, an ORP option is available to eligible Higher Education employees.  This option is only available to faculty and administrative employees.  The ORP option includes the following components:

  • The ORP component has two elements, one is the employer contributions of 9% and the other is the mandatory employee contributions of 5%.  These funds are deposited into an account administered by one, two, or three of the approved ORP vendors (AIG-VALIC, TIAA, or VOYA) and investments designated by the employee
  • The Defined Contribution component, separate from the above ORP component, has an additional 2% auto enroll employee contribution element into a 401(k) account, with an opt-out feature

For more information about the Hybrid Plan click here.

September 1, 2024

Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System (TCRS) State of Tennessee 401(k), 457, and ROTH 401(k)

Ryan Marlin | Retirement Plan Advisor
Empower Retirement | RetireReadyTN
545 Mainstream Drive, Suite 407, Nashville, TN 37228
Direct: 615-564-7007 | Fax: 615.256.5280 | Email: Ryan.Marlin@Empower-retirement.com
www.RetireReadyTN.gov

TIAA-CREF

Timothy Tubbs
Financial Consultant |Retirement Advice & Consulting
Retirement Solutions
TIAA
Office: 865-347-5011
Timothy.Tubbs@tiaa.org
www.tiaa.org

OR

Austin Jefferson, CRPC®, CMFC®
Financial Consultant
Client Relationships
TIAA
3100 West End Avenue | Suite 375
Nashville, TN. 37203 P
615.783.2956 ext. 25-2956
ajefferson@tiaa.org
www.tiaa.org

VOYA

Ed Stewart,ChFC,CLU,CFS
Financial Advisor
Voya Financial Advisors,Inc.
214 Second Ave. N.,Suite 2
Nashville,Tn. 37201
Tel. 615-627-5936 Fax
615-244-7182
ed.stewart@voyafa.com
www.voyafa.com

VALIC – Inactive Accounts Only

Tommy McClendon, CRPC

VALIC Financial Advisors, Inc.

Financial Advisor | Tennessee District | Southeast Region
AIG Retirement Services
340 Seven Springs Way | MC150 | Brentwood, TN 37027 Tel +1
615 221 2541 | Cell +1 615 653 2881 | Fax +1 615 221 2563
tommy.mcclendon@aig.com
www.aig.com/RetirementServices

Human Resource Services 

Middle Tennessee State University 
2269 Middle Tennessee Boulevard 
204 Sam H. Ingram Building 
Murfreesboro, TN  37132-0001
(615)-898-2929