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2008

UC Retirement System Adds Roth IRA Rollover Option
The University has expanded the options available in the UC Retirement System by permitting rollover of qualified funds into a Roth IRA.
[June 9, 2008]

FITSCo is Now Fidelity Retirement Services
On April 1, FITSCo changed its name to Fidelity Retirement Services. The new name better reflects the services provided by UC’s master recordkeeper.
[April 1, 2008]

UCRP Asset Transfer to LLNS Defined Benefit Plan Completed April 1
[April 1, 2008]

UCRP Asset Transfer to LLNS Defined Benefit Plan On Regents' Agenda
[January 8, 2008]

2007

Retiring Overseas
Many retirees have settled in various parts of the globe, from Australia to India to the United Kingdom, where life ranges from laid-back in the countryside to busy in the big city.
[July 27, 2007]

Information about UCRP (Brochure)
[July 10, 2007]

UCRS Advisory Board Election Results
Tricia M. Hiemstra, a 22-year UC staff employee who currently serves at UC Santa Barbara as benefits manager, and John R. Sandbrook, a 34-year UCLA staff employee who currently serves there as executive officer to the administrative vice chancellor, have been elected to the UCRS Advisory Board. For more information, visit the election website. [June 29, 2007]

UCRS Advisory Board Voting Ends June 22
Reminder: You have until next Friday (June 22, 5:00 p.m.) to cast your vote for two members of the UCRS Advisory Board. [June 14, 2007]

2007 UCRS Advisory Board Candidates Announced
[May 14, 2007]

Nomination Applications for UCRS Advisory Board Election Now Being Accepted
Nomination applications are invited through May 4, 2007 for an election to be conducted May 29 to June 22, 2007 to select two employees who are not members of the Academic Senate to the University of California Retirement System (UCRS) Advisory Board. [March 21, 2007]

UCRP Asset Transfer to LANS Defined Benefit Plan on Regents' Agenda
As part of the closeout of the University of California’s contract with the Department of Energy to manage Los Alamos National Laboratory, UC will seek Regents’ authorization to enter into two agreements with the Department of Energy (DOE) /National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) regarding the transfer of University of California Retirement Plan (UCRP) assets and liabilities.
[March 12, 2007]

Livermore Lab Adds Contract Transition Website for Retirees
Information for retirees about the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) contract transition is now available online. [January 26, 2007]

2006

Emerti and Retiree Associations Support Restart of UCRP Contributions [PDF]
[December 19, 2006]

UC Seeks State Funding to Match Employee UCRP Contributions
At their November meeting, UC Regents were presented a state budget proposal for 2007–08 that included a request for funding that would allow UC to match employee contribution levels to the UC Retirement Plan (UCRP) when contributions to the plan are reinstated. [November 15, 2006]

2007 Annual Contribution Limits for 403(b) and 457(b) Plans Set
Employees who wish to maximize their contributions to the UC Retirement Savings Program's Tax-Deferred 403(b) and/or 457(b) Deferred Compensation Plans may want to increase contributions for 2007 based on new contribution limits. [October 24, 2006]

Update, Action Item Regarding UCRP Asset Transfer to LANS Plan on Regents' Agenda
As part of the implementation of the new management and operations contract at LANL (which became effective June 1, 2006) and consistent with the requirement set forth in the University's contract with the Department of Energy, UC is required to transfer University of California Retirement Plan (UCRP) assets at a rate sufficient to meet the cash flow requirements of the Los Alamos National Security LLC defined benefit plan (LANS Plan). [September 18, 2006]
Fact sheet

Protecting Employee Pension Benefits: Update Regarding Restart of Contributions to UCRP
As part of their ongoing efforts to protect future employee pension benefits and ensure the long-term health of the UC Retirement Plan (UCRP), the UC Regents have decided that contributions from both the university and employees will need to be reinstated, beginning as early as July 1, 2007. [July 21, 2006]

Regents Continue Planning Process on UCRP Contribution Schedule
At their May meeting, The UC Regents continued their discussions about how to ensure the long-term financial health of the UC Retirement Plan (UCRP), including the eventual restart of contributions by both UC and UCRP members. [June 20, 2006]

Regents Take No Action on UCRP Contribution Schedule
Citing the need for more consultation and analysis, as well as the UC budget process, the UC Regents at their May 18 meeting took no action on a specific schedule to reinstate contributions to the UC Retirement Plan (UCRP). [May 19, 2006]

The Future of UC Retirement Plan

Letter to Employees: March Regents Item Regarding UC Retirement Plan [PDF]
[March 9, 2006]

Revised 403(b) Plan Summary Plan Description Available
A revised 403(b) Plan Summary Plan Description is now available. The revised publication reflects service enhancements that were implemented as part of the transition to a new recordkeeping arrangement with Fidelity Investments Tax-Exempt Services Company (FITSCO). [January 12, 2006]

2005

Tax Rules Issued for Health Plan Coverage for Non-tax Dependent Children
Beginning in January, faculty and staff will need to notify the University if they have UC health plan coverage for natural or adopted children who do not qualify as tax dependents under IRS rules. [November 22, 2005]

2006 Annual Contribution Limits for 403(b) and 457(b) Plans Set
Employees who wish to maximize their contributions to the UC Retirement Savings Program's Tax-Deferred 403(b) and/or 475(b) Deferred Compensation Plans may want to increase contributions for 2006 based on new contribution limits. [November 15, 2005]

Transition to FITSCo Now in Process
The process of transferring account records for the UC Retirement Savings Program (Defined Contribution and Tax-Deferred 403(b) Plans) to Fidelity Investments Tax-Exempt Services Company (FITSCo) has begun and will continue through mid-July. [June 28, 2005]

Important Information about the UC Retirement Savings Program
[May 3, 2005]

Information about the new services provider for DC and 403(b) plans
Here is the text of the February/March newsletter article about the transition of participant account and recordkeeping services for the Defined Contribution Plan and Tax-Deferred 403(b) Plan to Fidelity Investments Tax-Exempt Services Company, and a set of Questions and Answers about the article information. [March 3, 2005]

New 457(b) Plan Enrollment and Change Deadlines
UC 457(b) Deferred Compensation Plan enrollments and changes must be completed before the end of the last business day of any given month to take effect with the next month's earnings. [January 28, 2005]

2004

UCRS Begins Campaign to Locate "Lost" Participants
UCRS has launched a project to obtain current address information for some former employees with money remaining in the Defined Contribution Plan and/or the Tax-Deferred 403(b) Plan. [December 21, 2004]

Deadline for UCRP Service Credit Allocation Program for Unit 18
The 2003 Unit 18 Non-Senate Instructional Unit contract includes provisions for granting University of California Retirement Plan (UCRP) service credit to eligible NSI appointees to recognize qualified past periods of work at UC in temporary positions, which were excluded from UCRP membership. [October 28, 2004]

UC Selects Fidelity to Administer New 457(b) Plan
At the July 14-15 Board of Regents meeting, the University of California announced that it has selected Fidelity Investments Tax-Exempt Services Company to provide record keeping and investment education services for its new 457(b) tax-deferred savings plan. [July 20, 2004]

Newly revised UCRS Summary Plan Descriptions Available
[July 19, 2004]

New Investment Options Available in April
Two new UC-managed investment options will be available to participants in the UCRS Defined Contribution Plan (DC Plan) and Tax-Deferred 403(b) Plan beginning in April: the TIPS (Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities) Fund and the Balanced Growth Fund (replacing the Multi-Asset Fund). [March 1, 2004]

UCRS Soliciting Bids
UC Human Resources and Benefits, in partnership with the Office of the Treasurer, is soliciting bids from firms that offer record keeping and investment education services, in connection with the possible addition of a new 457(b) deferred compensation plan. [February 23, 2004]

2003

403(b) Plan Contribution Limits To Increase in 2004
For 2004, contribution limits for the Tax-Deferred 403(b) Plan are increasing. [December 16, 2003]

Mutual Funds
Press coverage of the Securities and Exchange Commission's scrutiny of the mutual fund industry has prompted questions regarding the safety and reliability of retirement related investments. [November 12, 2003]

UCRP COLA for July 1, 2003
[July 10, 2003]

Retirement Investment Funds Booklet
An updated version of the UC Treasurer's "Retirement Investment Funds" booklet is now available on the Treasurer's Office website. [April 24, 2003]

UCRS Semi-Annual Account Statement Mailing for December 31, 2002
[February 28, 2003]

2003 Insurance Company Contract (ICC) Fund
The Treasurer's Office has negotiated three new contracts for the ICC Fund for the 2003 calendar year. [February 11, 2003]

2002

Annual Financial Reports for the Year Ended June 30, 2002, are Now Available for UCRP and the DC and 403(b) Plans
[December 10, 2002]

Equity Management Changes in the Treasurer's Office
The UC Treasurer's Office is implementing a new equity strategy to improve investment performance for UCRP and the UC-managed funds that have equity holdings. [November 27, 2002]

UCRP Service Credit Allocation Program for Academic Appointees Ends December 31, 2002
[November 19, 2002]

Regents' Approve Additional Retirement Funds
In an effort to mitigate disappointing 2002-03 salary increases due to limited state funding, University of California Regents today (Nov. 14) approved additional retirement funds for eligible UC employees by way of a special retirement account. [November 14, 2002]

UCRS Performance Information Presented to the Regents' Committee on Investments by Treasurer David H. Russ on October 29, 2002
[October 31, 2002]

UCRS Performance Information Presented to the Regents' by Treasurer David H. Russ on September 18, 2002
[September 18, 2002]

UCRP Survivor Benefits for Domestic Partners
Effective July 1, 2002, the University of California Retirement Plan (UCRP ) was amended to provide monthly survivor benefits to eligible same-sex and opposite-sex domestic partners of UCRP members—and, in certain circumstances, to a partner's qualified children. [August 27, 2002]

Reminder to Academic Appointees—UCRP Service Credit Allocation
The Regents approved the University of California Retirement Plan (UCRP) Service Credit Allocation program to provide service credit to certain eligible UCRP members in recognition of past time worked in temporary positions. [August 19, 2002]

UCRS Semi-Annual Account Statement Mailing for 6/30/02
The UCRS Semi-Annual Account Statements for the six-month period ending June 30, 2002, are currently being mailed to all active and inactive UC Plan participants. [August 16, 2002]

Worldcom Exposure in the UC Regents Portfolio
[June 28, 2002]

403(b) Plan Loans—New Online Application
Eligible employees of the University of California can now apply for a Tax-Deferred 403(b) Plan Loan online at the UCbencom website. [June 7, 2002]

Treasurer's Office Website—New Information
The new booklet "Retirement Investment Funds" is now available on the Treasurer's Office website. [May 31, 2002]

Concurrent Retirement from UCRP and STRS
[May 23, 2002]

Benefits for UC-PERS Plan Retirees
[May 23, 2002]

Governor Davis Signs State Tax Legislation
 Read this for information about California legislation that now conforms to current federal tax laws. [May 15, 2002]

Capital Accumulation Provision II (CAP II)
 In an effort to mitigate this year's decline in state revenues and reduced state funding for 2001-2002 salary increases, The UC Regents approved the Capital Accumulation Provision II (CAP II). [May 15, 2002]

Amended Enron Lawsuit Adds Banks, Law Firms
[April 8, 2002]

Special Tax Notice for Plan Distributions
[April 8, 2002]

Rollover Factsheet
[March 15, 2002]

University of California Named Lead Plaintiff in Enron Class Action Suit
The United States District Court today (Feb.15) named the University of California as lead plaintiff in the shareholders' class action lawsuit against senior executives of the Enron Corporation and the accounting firm of Arthur Andersen LLP. [February 15, 2002]

Update on UC's Enron Investments and Lawsuit
 On December 21, 2001, the University of California joined a class-action lawsuit against 29 senior executives of Enron Corporation and its accounting firm, Arthur Andersen. [February 6, 2002]

2002 Insurance Company Contract
 The Treasurer's Office has negotiated two new contracts for the ICC Funds for 2002. [January 29, 2002]

New Tax Provisions for Retirement Plan Contribution Limits and Distributions
[January 17, 2002]

2001

University of California Joins Federal Class Action Suit Against Senior Enron Management
[December 21, 2001]

403(b) Plan Maximum Annual Contribution for 2002
Read the letter for details on the maximum contribution for 2002. The 2002 Catch-up Provision Worksheet is also available. [December 21, 2001]

One-time UCRP Service Credit Allocation Reminder for Staff, Preview for Academics
The Regents recently approved a program to provide University of California Retirement Plan (UCRP) service credit to certain eligible UCRP members in recognition of past time worked in temporary positions. [November 28, 2001]

UC Regents Approve Systemwide Supplemental Funds Program to Help Boost Modest Employee Salary Increases
[November 16, 2001]

UCRP Service Credit Allocation Program
This booklet provides the qualification requirements and the process for certain UCRP members to apply for a one or two year allocation of UCRP service credit for prior temporary service, or appeal their allocations for additional service credit. [November 1, 2001]

UCRP Service Credit Allocation Program Appeal Worksheet
If you have received an allocation under the UCRP Service Credit Allocation Program, this worksheet helps you estimate how much UCRP service credit you might receive if you submit an appeal. [November 1, 2001]

2002 Social Security Changes
Read this Social Security News Release about changes in 2002, including the annual Cost-of-Living Adjustment. [October 22, 2001]

UC Proposes Special Retirement Savings Option
University administrators will be presenting to UC Regents on November 14-15 a proposal that would give eligible employees additional personal funds by way of a special retirement account. [October 12, 2001]

UC Regents Name New Treasurer
The Regents unanimously approved selection of David H. Russ as new Treasurer. [April 4, 2001]

UCRS Advisory Board Election Results!
Anne C. Fink, Benefits and Financial Consultant, at the University of California Irvine, has been elected to the non-Academic Senate seat of the University of California Retirement System (UCRS) Advisory Board. [April 4, 2001]

Additional Statements for Advisory Board Candidates
[March 6, 2001]

UCRS Advisory Board Election Begins on March 1
Voting in the UCRS Advisory Board election begins on March 1 at 8:00 a.m. and ends on March 31, 2001, at midnight. [February 27, 2001]

Semi-Annual Account Statements
Account statements for the period 7/1/00—12/31/00 were mailed last week to anyone with a balance in UCRP, the DC Plan, and/or the 403(b) Plan. [February 27, 2001]

Rules of Campaign Conduct—UCRS Advisory Board Election
[February 6, 2001]

UCRS Advisory Board Election 2001
[February 5, 2001]

Candidate Statements—UCRS Advisory Board Election
The following are the candidates' statements in conjunction with the UCRS Advisory Board election which begins on March 1 and ends on March 31. [February 2, 2001]

Retirement Investment Funds Brochure
[February 1, 2001]

2001 Insurance Company Contract
The Treasurer's Office has negotiated a new contract for the ICC Fund for 2001. [February 1, 2001]

UCRP Cost-of-Living Adjustment
[January 29, 2001]
The Regents recently approved an ad hoc cost-of-living adjustment for certain annuitants.

Regents Approve Retirement Plan Improvements
In an effort to reward current employees and further enhance the university's competitive position in recruiting future employees, the UC Board of Regents today (Jan. 18). [January 18, 2001]

UC Investments to Remain Tobacco-free
The University of California Board of Regents reaffirmed its practice of not investing in tobacco-related stocks today (Jan. 18). [January 18, 2001]

2000

Call for UCRS Advisory Board Candidates
Employees who are active members of UCRP but not members of the Academic Senate are invited to run for election to the UCRS Advisory Board. [December 1, 2000]

Semi-Annual Account Statements
Account statements for the period 1/1/00—6/30/00 are being mailed this week to anyone with a balance in UCRP, the DC Plan, and/or the 403(b) Plan. [August 24, 2000]

2000 UCRS Summary Plan Description Booklet
[August 15, 2000]

Regents' Letter Addresses Asset Allocation Strategy
[August 15, 2000]

Social Security Earnings Test Eliminated
If you are between ages 65 and 70, you can work and still receive your full Social Security retirement benefits. [June 28, 2000]

Transfer Your UC-managed Fund Balances Online!
If you're a participant in UC's 403(b) Plan or DC Plan, you can now transfer your UC-managed fund balances without the bother of submitting paper forms. [June 22, 2000]

UCRS Advisory Board Election
The UCRS Advisory Board election has been postponed. [June 2, 2000]

Revised Asset Allocation Plan
[May 8, 2000]

UCRP Re-Examines Retirement Benefits—Update
Additional information about possible improvements to the UCRP retirement age factors. [May 4, 2000]

Call For UCRS Advisory Board Candidates
Employees who are active members of UCRP but not members of the Academic Senate are invited to run for election to the UCRS Advisory Board. [May 4, 2000]

UCRP Service Credit Buyback Deadline
Following is clarification on the UCRP buyback deadline of July 1, 2000. [April 11, 2000]

UCRP Retirement Benefits—Update
Many employees are interested in reading about possible UCRP retirement benefit enhancements. [March 10, 2000]

Semi-Annual Account Statements
Account statements for the period 7/1/99—12/31/99 are being mailed this week to anyone with a balance in UCRP, the DC Plan, and/or the 403(b) Plan. [February 21, 2000]

Interested in Service Credit Buyback?
The window is closing soon. Check here for important deadlines. [February 16, 2000]

Insurance Company Contract Rate for 2000
The UC Treasurer's Office has negotiated two new contracts for the Insurance Company Contract (ICC) Fund for 2000. [February 4, 2000]

Check your UCRS Account Balances Online!
Good news! You can now view your own account balances in the UCRS plans online. [February 2, 2000]

UCRP Examines Retirement Benefits
[February 1, 2000]

1999

403(b) Plan Maximum Annual Contributions—2000
The Tax Reform Act limit on contributions to the 403(b) Plan has increased. [November 24, 1999]

Maximum Annual Contribution for the 403(b) Plan
The deadline is approaching for appealing the amount of your 1999 maximum annual contribution foor the 403(b) Plan, or to elect an alternative contribution limit. [September 14, 1999]

Printing Error: Semi-Annual Account Statements
Due to a printing error, some of the recently mailed Semi-Annual Account Statements are incorrect and are being reprinted. [September 8, 1999]

UCRP Buyback Materials Updated
Effective July 1, 2000, UCRP service credit buyback will be available to active members only for a limited time (within a 3-year window after the member returns to UC employment). Recently updated information is available. [August 23, 1999]

Semi-Annual Account Statements
Account statements for the period 1/1/99—6/30/99 will be mailed toward the end of August. [August 20, 1999]

New Distribution Line
On July 26, 1999, participants can use a new feature on UC's interactive telephone service, bencom.fone, to request distributions from their DC Plan and Tax-Deferred 403(b) Plan accounts. [July 26, 1999]

Proposed CalPERS Benefit Improvements
UC employees and retirees who are members of the California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS) may be interested in CalPERS' proposed benefit improvements. [July 19, 1999]

UCRP COLA for July 1, 1999
Read about the 7/1/99 cost-of-living (COLA) adjustment for UCRP retirees. [July 12, 1999]

UCRS Board Election Results
Lori C. Stein, Assistant Director, Humanities, at the University of California Los Angeles, has been elected to the non-Academic Senate seat of the UCRS Board. [July 12, 1999]

New Expanded Benefit Estimator
An expanded UC Retirement Plan benefit estimator is now available on UCbencom. [June 15, 1999]

bencom.fone Enrollment Line
Read about the new, convenient way to enroll in or make changes to your account in UC's 403(b) and DC plans. [April 30, 1999]

Tax Verification Requests
Tax Verification Requests are being mailed this week to UC employees and annuitants. [March 25, 1999]

1998 Income Tax Returns and Pretax Transportation Program
If you participated in UC's Pretax Transportation Program in 1998, read this important information about your 1998 income tax return. [March 16, 1999]

Semi-Annual Account Statements
Account statements for the period 7/1/98—12/31/98 are being mailed over the next two weeks. [February 23, 1999]

Fidelity Growth and Income II Portfolio
Fidelity's newest mutual fund is now available to UC 403(b) and DC Plan participants. [February 4, 1999]

Calvert Group Update
Read about important changes at Calvert. [January 15, 1999]

Fidelity's Stages Magazine
Fidelity is changing the way it distributes its quarterly magazine. [January 12, 1999]

1998

Fidelity Adds New 401(k), 403(b) Phone Technology, Making Funds Exchanges as Easy as Talking
Fidelity Investments is putting the final touches on enhancements to its telephone voice response units that will make investment exchanges for investors in 403(b) and 401(k) plans as easy as speaking the name of the fund option. [November 13, 1998]

Fidelity Investments' NetBenefits
Read about Fidelity's new online transaction feature. [July 31, 1998]

FICA Tax Exemption for UC Student Employees
[May 15, 1998]

Fidelity Investments Mutual Fund Notice
Read this notice from Fidelity that announces that no new investors will be permitted to purchase shares of the following three Fidelity mutual funds—Contrafund, Low-Priced Stock Fund, and Growth and Income Portfolio. Note that the funds remain open to participants in UC's Defined Contribution and Tax-Deferred 403(b) plans. [March 26, 1998]

Defined Contribution Plan Annual Contribution Limit
Read about the annual contribution limit change for the Defined Contribution Plan After-Tax Account. [January 20, 1998]