TIAA Reviews 

I concur with many of the reviews here. The paperwork to move retirements accounts from a deceased spouse to the living one is a nightmare. This has been going on for 11 months and still not resolved. This is one of the most bureaucratic organizations I have ever worked with. I had my POA forms notarized and submitted months ago, but can't speak with anyone at customer service for a parent because they can't see my status as POA. I would urge anyone with parents who have accounts here to move them to a more modern and user-friendly business.

Every time I log to the website, on it does not recognize me. I reset my password, only for it to not work the next time. I have done this at least 10 times, and it STILL does not recognize me.

The website is difficult to maneuver around and find basic info... such as I changed my plan within their ideas of "conservative or aggressive." When I went to check the next day to see if things had actually changes, it was nearly impossible to find this same reckoning. We have other accounts at a different investment firm with NO difficulties in navigating the website for our info. I am considering moving all my funds to them for simply because of how difficulty it is to navigate the TIAA website. Oh, and phone call to address this gets you 20 minutes on hold and two months for an appointment.???

I suffered a Hardship when a family member stole o
OVER $60,000 from me.I was offered or told about A Modification Loan,to keep me in my home.JOKE.After putting down $120,000 down and paying on time for about 16 years,I just got ANOTHER LETTER from TIAA Bank,which is asking for Documents,sometimes sent up to FIVE TIMES.I have sent EVERY DOCUMENT and MORE.Depending on WHO I talked to,sometimes THREE People in a DAY,they were either CLUELESS,altho every call is recorded and supposedly documented,to what I need,what I didn't need,what to expect a nightmare for myself who is not disabled and my 26 year old son,who is broad spectrum but helping send documents etc,fill out his portion of the forms,as told on occasions to numerous to mention but on my phone,email etc and record ONLY to receive a letter yesterday,being asked for same documents,forms,etc but NOW,even IF I send all and DID,may still be FORECLOSED and not sent IN TIMELY MATTER.My son and I have LIVED,BREATHED,trying to accommodate TIAA BANK,yet told may still be foreclosed Sometimes just up to FORECLOSURE on the end if Sheriff.I have done this,FOUR LONG MONTHS.ALSO,just told ONE WEEK AGO but a RUDE associate in PASSING CONVERSATION, and know it was discussed,I told THEM,never in ANY of the forms I filled out,NEVER a question THAT NOW TIAA BANK,does not due Loan Modifications,with any home with liens on it!WHAT! ALSO,rudely told to maybe get ready for a RAINLY DAY.I didn't even create the liens,but my r.i.p.x and put the debt on cc to SAVE MY CREDIT.Had gotten no doc loans in past,due to credit being sterling etc and purchased own home at 19,then rentals.I was SPEECHLESS. Called same day and told that it was RARE but up to underwriter to make that call.Now this new later,actually yesterday as couldn't sleep due to this NIGHTMARE and now letter to maybe pending FORECLOSURE,sending AGAIN,documents.Changing documents,as just sent MORE DUPLICATE documents they said I did,didn't need ,or didn't receive or DID RECEIVE but want MORE.Truly an unreal 4 month NIGHTMARE.It has caused MYSELF and son,to say FRUSTRATION,is super mild! I Have thought about ending my life,severely depressed,never knowing when,I might be HOMELESS.The only reason I have NOT,is that my son's challenges will make it IMPOSSIBLE to be on his OWN.As much PAIN,STRESS,LOSING SLEEP,HAIR,looking for homes for my beloved pets,things acquired and where I will live,I for the most part,once a spitfire,am disappointed to large degree due to this NIGHTMARE SITUATION and my son MOSTLY,being homeless.I have actually said that to them,MANY TIMES,RECENTLY.Now..you never know with this BANK,or what they say or DON'T.Kinda waiting for a
SHERIFF to show up.Yup,more repeat documents asked for.Literally,throwing up from the stress.My son has been BRAVE,as I am a mess but always on top if it regardless Now,after yesterday's letter and conversation with PAMELA,that all we did was MUTE POINT,as liens in property,he is SCARED,DAILY.I have already looked into rehoming my pets and subsided housing.Back in July,I was called from a number that identified as TIAA BANK.Very long story short,knew my unfro etc,told I WAS APPROVED for a
FEDERALLY FINDED LOAN MODIFICATION and send them almost $900 to find out,the FEX X BOX,I sent it two,is in front of a Primo's pizza and SCAMMED.Now being investigated.When calling TIAA bank,as just made payment to SCAM ARTIST PHONE READ,stay on line with TIAA BANK OR MERGE WITH TIAA BANK! I WOULD go on but there is NO WAY TO BE CONCISE with what myself,son,misinformation,LOST? information and MENTAL ANGUISH OF GOING THROUGH THIS and NOW,this letter! I literally right now could throw up,can't sleep and starting asking for help as SOMETHING ISN'T RIGHT! I truly have thought about ending my life NOW DAILY.I OWE THEM ONLY 62,000.I applied for food stamps and got them,renegotiated all my DEBT after rebuilding it,putting another $1,000 to bring me and surely be able to pay in a $62,000 debt.I am speechless and soon will call as stomach upset.I PRAY if I help ,ONE person from this happening,making NEW CEO AWARE OF THIS,and the SCAMNER IS BEING INVESTIGATED BY POSTAL INSPECTION.
SO,here I sit.THIS LONG LENGTHY LETTER CANNOT EXPRESS being disabled,my age,having a somewhat disabled 26 year old who will not be able to support himself and DEATH RUNNING a Close second almost,to not giving up.I dread another call,calls,reaching out and now being physically ill.
I GAVE THEM 120,000 DOWN,OWE 62,000 and PAID MY LOAN IN A TIMELY MATTER for almost 16 years.I can only keep trying and PRAY as this clock ticks.It is a HORRIBLE WAY TO LIVE.ALMOST SURREAL,that they can RUN A BANK.TONI COSTANTINI I HOPE SOMEONE READS THIS,BELIEVES THIS,ALTHO,I do have documents and the hell,we are living with.

TIAA has been incredibly difficult to work with after the death of our parents. They are unresponsive and their paperwork is incredibly confusing. It has been very difficult and they have made a hard thing far harder. My parents would be crushed to know that their heirs are being treated this way after they left all their money in TIAA accounts.

I am a long time customer of TIAA but am shocked at their poor customer service and lack of technology, especially compared to their competitors. I have IRA accounts an a number of brokerage firms and TIAA is by far the worse. Last week I wanted to change the beneficiary of my IRA accounts.

At Vanguard and Fidelity this took 10 minutes on-line. Not at TIAA - they send you a form that you have to fill out and can fax it back to them. And even then, it is not clear how long you have to wait for confirmation. Huh? Why? Even the customer service agent admitted is was backwards and behind the times. I sometimes write checks out of my IRA as a withdrawal. No problem at Vanguard and Fidelity. Not a TIAA. It is forbidden. Why? The customer service agent had no idea.

It is clear that TIAA is technologically backwards and not very customer oriented, Recent newspaper articles confirmed some of their misleading practices. I was going to transfer a large sum of money into their high yielding money marker accounts but have dropped that and have encouraged others not to use TIAA. They may be fooling their educator customers but I will keep working on my education colleagues to quit using this firm

When we were shoving money in our accounts for decades, they were very quick to respond.

Now that we are living on our savings and investments, this TIAA crowd can't get straight answers to us. We've had 3, 4, 5 different "consutlants" assigned in the past 4-years.

We can't even get statements as detailed and well formatted as you get with an order of lumber from Home Depot.

I can go on and on. Maybe it is just us... but it is almost scary how poorly their client service is today.

All while they have their hands on a small fortune saved over the past 30-years. Our small fortune.

We just assumed they were "Pros". We were wrong.

This is our personal experience. Yours may be different.

Awful company! The reps are not trained in how to properly instruct clients in how to complete TIAA forms. I was told by a rep how to complete a form to change my beneficiaries and complete a spousal waiverand was given the wrong information. I followed up numerous times and was incorrectly told my beneficiaries had been updated. Two months later I get an email from TIAA telling me it was not done properly even though it was done excatly how I was told. Now I need to do it all again and get it notorized again! When I complained about this I was told that a manager would call and no one ever called. Also, I was told I would be sent forms to withdraw my funds from TIAA and I never got those either. I will be removing my money from this disorganized company and transferring to Fidelity which provides excellent service and has knowledgeable reps.

TIAA is a difficult retirement company to work with. I have been through a long and hard divorce and they only made the process worse. It has been three years. They did not transfer the funds and so I need to fill out all their forms again. Then they ask if I am divorced. Yes that is what a QDRO is and I was royally ripped up. Transfer the money and stop traumatizing people that clearly do not want to do business with you. Desperate to rip you off . Dioceses.

Terrible waste of time if you need to claim. They don't send the forms and make it really complicated to get your money.

I was a State employee for many years and had my retirement account here. A few years ago I decided to take all of my money out of stocks because I felt the market would down turn. The rep recommended a guaranteed fund to place my money. When I asked her about the fund she said only that it might be a bit harder to access my money. So now with COVID, I am at half pay and since I'm over 60, I go to access my funds and I'm told I can't. It seems with this fund I can only access 10% of my funds over the next 10 years. That was never disclosed to me. When I asked if I could have a copy of the recording, I was told no, that was not TIAA's policy. Because I am not in foreclosure, according to TIAA I am not eligible to access the money emergently. Do NOT trust this company with your hard earned money, they don't care about you...just your money and how best they can keep it.