Purpose-Faculty and exempt employees of the University of Tennessee or the Tennessee Board of Regents may choose between membership in Group I of the State Retirement Program (TCRS) and membership in the Optional Retirement Program (ORP). The purpose of the Optional Retirement Program is to establish a life time retirement benefit. Therefore, 50% of distributions from a participant's account balance must be taken in the form of a lifetime benefit.

You must choose your retirement plan upon your first date of employment. Be sure to review your options carefully so that you are comfortable with your choice.

If you do not make an election, you will be automatically enrolled into the State retirement program.

Employees Hired After July 1, 2014

ORP contribution rates for new employees who begin employment on or after July 1, 2014:

• Employer contribution will be 9% of compensation
• Mandatory employee contribution will be 5% of compensation.

A 2% Employee auto-enroll contribution will also be made on behalf of all participants to the 401(k) plan for which a participant may change his/her contribution amount at any time.

Employees Hired Prior to July 1, 2014

ORP contribution rate for existing participants (before July 1, 2014) will continue to be an employer contribution of 10% of compensation up to the social security wage base and 11% of compensation above the social security wage base.

Withdrawals-Tennessee Code Annotated § 8-25-211 sets the maximum ORP cash withdrawal.  This cash withdrawal limit of 50% applies to amounts withdrawn due to all types of withdrawals including roll over’s from the account.

Additional Savings Opportunities-Active State employees and ORP participants who are active employees may defer a portion of their salary to the deferred compensation program.  The Deferred Compensation Program includes a 457 and a 401(k) plan.  Plan early to provide a flexible source of funds at retirement.  The 457 Plan is especially attractive to higher education faculty and staff as it has a separate contribution limit not shared with IRC § 403(b) plans.  Discretionary cash may be accumulated in your deferred compensation program.  Please see Treasury.tn.gov/dc/index.html for access to information and forms.