Retirement Savings Options

Saving for your future is one of the most important things you can do for yourself and your family. The Stanford Contributory Retirement Plan (SCRP) is available to help you achieve your financial goals. We’re making improvements to simplify the plan and reduce barriers so that everyone at Stanford can maximize their retirement savings with confidence.

What’s changing at a glance — effective July 1, 2026

Postdoc SCRP Eligibility

• Eligible to contribute to Pre-Tax, Roth, and After-Tax SCRP contributions
• SCRP enrollment is available after receiving your first Stanford paycheck
• Only eligible Stanford salary pay can be contributed to SCRP - stipend and outside funding pay is not eligible for contributing to retirement accounts
• Rehired postdocs must submit new SCRP elections

Understanding the changes in more detail

Please see below for a summary of how these changes may affect you, beginning with your first paycheck in July. 
If you are: 

• Currently contributing to TDA Pre-tax and/or CRA Pre-tax:
  • TDA Pre-tax and CRA Pre-tax contributions will automatically be combined into one Pre-tax percentage. For example, if you are contributing 5% TDA Pre-tax and 4% CRA Pre-tax, your new percentage will be 9% Pre-tax. You’ll see this change reflected in your Fidelity and TIAA accounts in mid-June. However, if you wish, you will be able to change your contribution elections at any time.
  • All Pre-tax contributions are now eligible for an in-plan Roth conversion through Fidelity.
  • Additionally, with the launch of Sequoia, our new HR and Payroll system, Pre-tax deductions will be taken before any After-tax deductions. To make sure you still have enough money for other important deductions, we are capping retirement Pre-tax contributions at 75% of your eligible pay instead of 100%. This change will help ensure that all necessary deductions are taken from your paycheck each pay period and you will still be able to reach maximum contribution limits by the end of the year.
• Non-benefits-eligible:
  • In addition to Pre-tax and Roth contributions, After-tax contributions will be available, allowing additional After-tax contributions beyond the IRS limits for Pre-tax and Roth contributions.
• Age 59 ½ and actively appointed at Stanford:
  • All contributions are available for an in-service withdrawal with no restrictions.

What’s next

If you wish to update your elections, please log in to Fidelity NetBenefits or call Fidelity at 888-793-8733 to speak with a representative. 

Individual Financial Counseling Appointments

As an active postdoctoral scholar having an existing retirement account with Stanford, you can review your current and future retirement savings options and schedule an appointment with a representative from one of the plan’s financial institutions. They can offer guidance on the best strategy to meet your retirement goals through Stanford’s retirement savings plans.

To schedule an appointment

Contact the investment organization you would like to talk to:

TIAA-CREF Appointments 
(800) 842-2007

Vanguard Appointments 
(800) 662-0106 x14500

Fidelity Appointments 
(800) 642-7131

Quarterly Participant Fees

Stanford retirement accounts are subject to administration and bookkeeping fees on the first business day of each quarter. These charges will appear on your quarterly statement under Fees.

Please review Fidelity NetBenefits website for additional information and the latest fee information.

The Stanford Contributory Retirement Plan Summary Plan Description (SCRP SPD) Booklet