Voluntary/Supplemental Retirement Plans

NC State offers voluntary retirement plan options, in addition to the mandatory retirement plans (TSERS or ORP), to help eligible staff and faculty plan and save for retirement. These voluntary plans help staff and faculty supplement their retirement savings to meet retirement goals and also offer potential tax benefits.

The employee contribution to the mandatory retirement plans, both ORP or TSERS, is a state-mandated 6% on a pre-tax basis. The contribution to the mandatory retirement plans cannot be increased or decreased, per state law. In order to contribute additional funds towards retirement, employees can participate in one or more of the voluntary retirement plans listed below. 

NC State does not make contributions to voluntary retirement plans. Contributions are deducted from employees’ pay on a pre-tax or Roth (after-tax) basis.

Voluntary/Supplemental Retirement Plan Options

Plan Options	UNC 403(b) Plan	NC 401(k) Plan	UNC 457 Plan	NC 457 Plan
Plan Options	TIAA	Empower	TIAA	Empower
Eligibility	Any Employee whose pay is subject to FICA taxes	Only available to employees eligible for the mandatory retirement plan(s)	Any employee whose pay is subject to FICA taxes	Any employee whose pay is subject to FICA taxes
Maximum Annual Contribution Limit 2024	$23,000; an additional catch-up contribution of $7,500 is available if age 50 or older
Plan Coordination	The UNC 403b Plan and NC 401(k) plan share the same contribution limit and are aggregated. The maximum you can contribute to one/both of these plans is $23,000 or if age 50 or older $30,500. Your contributions to the ORP, TSERS and 457 plans are not included in this limit.		The UNC 457 Plan and NC 457 plan share the same contribution limit and are aggregated. The maximum you can contribute to one/both of these plans is $23,000 or if age 50 or older $30,500. Your contributions to the ORP, TSERS and 403b/401k Plans are not included in this limit.
Contribution Options	Both Pre-Tax and After-Tax (Roth) options are available for all plans
Accessing Funds	Earliest to occur of: separation from service, age 59½, retirement, disability or death. Contact your vendor for loan and hardship withdraw options while still employed.
Early Withdrawal Penalty (Before age 59.5)	Yes	Yes	None	None

Pre-Tax or After-Tax (Roth)

One of the great things about these plans are that you have payroll deductions on a pre-tax or after-tax basis. Unlike an IRA or Roth IRA, you have much higher contribution limits through payroll deduction.

• If you get tax refunds back each year, you may want to consider contributing on an after-tax basis.  You pay the taxes on your contributions now, and the money grows tax free.
•  If you pay taxes every year after you do your taxes, you may want to consider pre-tax deductions.  These lower taxable income and you pay less taxes now.  In retirement, when you take out the money, you then pay taxes on distribution from the plan or through minimum distributions at age 73 if you are no longer employed in an eligible role at NC State.

Enrollment & Changes to Coverage

Employees may enroll and change their supplemental plan contributions at any time throughout the year. After researching the plan options and vendors to enroll or make changes employees must take the following steps:

On-Campus Financial Planners

University Sponsored Retirement Plan Advisors

Meet with representatives from our retirement plan vendors for financial and retirement related advice. These certified financial advisors meet with employees at no cost or obligation to the employee and provide expert advice and resources to NC State Staff and Faculty.