Enroll in the plan
Get started by visiting the Transamerica website to view plan details and access forms and documents.
Taking steps to ensure your current and future financial security is an important part of your overall wellbeing. The WGU Retirement Savings Plan helps you prepare for retirement by offering an easy, tax-advantaged way to save for your future financial needs. WGU makes contributions on your behalf to the plan and you can too!
Key Advantages at a Glance
- Convenient payroll deductions. The WGU Retirement Savings Plan makes it easy to save for your future.
- Western Governors University matching contributions. Western Governors University will make a matching contribution on the first 3% of your pay you contribute.
- Automatic Western Governors University contributions. Western Governors University will contribute 3% of your eligible pay to your account whether or not you choose to contribute yourself.
- Current tax savings. You’ll pay less in income taxes when you make before-tax contributions.
- Wide range of investment choices. Choose how you want to invest your money.
- Tax-deferred investment growth. With before-tax contributions, your money has the potential to grow faster.
Eligibility and Enrollment
The WGU Retirement Savings Plan is generally available to all regular employees, although special eligibility rules apply to employees in positions classified as “temporary” or “intermittent.” For employees in classified as “temporary” or “intermittent,” they must complete 1000 hours and a year of service to receive WGU retirement contributions. Please visit the WGU People Center to submit a request for additional information about eligibility.
Check your progress
Log in to your Transamerica account to see your balance and use planning tools and calculators.
Make updates
Easily change your contribution rate, investment selections, or beneficiary on the Transamerica
website.
Western Governors University believes planning and saving for retirement is a shared responsibility. WGU’s role is to provide valuable plans and resources to help you build your future income. Your role is to invest and manage your retirement savings.
Before-tax vs. Roth after-tax
What’s the Difference?
The WGU Retirement Savings Plan gives you the flexibility to save for retirement in a variety of ways. You can make before-tax contributions, Roth after-tax contributions, or a combination of the two.
Before-tax Contributions
The money goes into your account before taxes are deducted, so you keep more of your take-home pay. Then, you’ll owe taxes on both your contributions and any investment earnings when you withdraw your money in retirement (when you may be in a lower income tax bracket).
Roth After-tax Contributions
The money goes into your account after taxes are withheld. Then, both your contributions and any associated earnings can be withdrawn tax-free in retirement.*
*In order for Roth earnings to be withdrawn tax-free, you must meet these two requirements:
- At least five years have elapsed since your first Roth contribution.
- You are at least 59½ or the withdrawal follows death or total disability.
Meet the match!
Try to contribute at least 3% to take full advantage of the match — otherwise, you’re leaving free money on the table. Log in to your Transamerica account to increase your contribution rate.
WGU Matching Contributions
Western Governors University offers dollar-for-dollar matching contributions on your before-tax and Roth after-tax contributions to the plan—up to 3% of your eligible pay—to support your retirement saving efforts. Eligible pay is limited to base or regular pay, as well as related amounts like holiday pay, sick pay, etc. Bonuses, pay for overtime, or other special additional amounts are not included.
Here’s how the company match works:
Non-Elective Contributions
Regardless of whether you choose to contribute to the plan, Western Governors University will make a contribution of 3% of your eligible pay. You are automatically 100% vested in these contributions after four years of service.
IRS Contribution Limits
You can elect to contribute a flat dollar amount or percentage of your eligible pay to the plan in the form of before-tax or Roth after-tax contributions, up to the applicable IRS limit currently at $23,000 for 2024. If you are 50 or older, this limit is an additional $7,500 for 2024. These limits include your before-tax contributions, Roth after-tax contributions, or a combination of both. The total eligible compensation limit is $345,000.
Are You Age 50 or Older?
It’s never too late to start saving for retirement! If you are a WGU employee who is age 50 or older during a given calendar year, you are automatically set up with the higher IRS contribution limit ($30,500 for 2024) that allows for catch-up retirement planning
Vesting is another way of saying “how much of the money is yours to keep if you leave WGU.”
You are always 100% vested in your own contributions and WGU’s matching contributions, including any investment gains and losses on the money. Regardless of whether you choose to contribute to the plan, WGU will make a contribution of 3% of your eligible pay. You are automatically 100% vested in these contributions after four years of service.
| Your years of service | Your vested percentage |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 | 0% |
| 1 but less than 2 | 25% |
| 2 but less than 3 | 50% |
| 3 but less than 4 | 75% |
| 4 or more | 100% |
It’s important to designate a beneficiary to receive the value of your WGU Retirement Savings Plan account in the event of your death. As personal circumstances change, be sure to keep that information up to date. Visit the Transamerica website to add or change a beneficiary.
The money in your account is intended as a long-term investment to help you prepare for your financial needs in retirement. However, under certain circumstances, you may be able to access money from your account before reaching retirement age. For more information, visit the Transamerica website or call 800-755-5801.
Think Before You Act
If you’re considering taking a withdrawal or loan from your WGU Retirement Savings Plan, be sure to think about the impact it may have on your financial future.
- Taking money from your account now may lead to a smaller savings balance when you retire.
- Not only are you taking money away from your retirement savings, but the burden of repaying the loan may make it even harder to get back on track.
- If you take a plan loan, you’ll also lose more money to taxes because the interest payments on your loan are made with money that has already been taxed, and it will be taxed again when withdrawn from your account.
- If you withdraw before-tax money from your plan account, in addition to paying current taxes on the money, you may have to pay an additional 10% penalty tax if you are younger than age 59½ (or, age 55 if you have retired or left the company).
Take an active role in your retirement planning by using these tools and resources:
- Transamerica online retirement planning tools – Access your Retirement Savings Plan account to access tools and education, including Transamerica’s OnTrack personalized retirement income analysis to estimate how much you may need now for retirement. Also, take advantage of a variety of other available investment guidance services and planning calculators.
- Professional 1-on-1 financial wellbeing support – Consult with a professional financial advisor and receive guidance to help you achieve your financial goals. Access a wide range of financial wellness tools and educational resources.
Before investing, carefully consider the funds’ or investment options’ objectives, risks, charges, and expenses. Call 800-755-5801 for a prospectus and, if available, a summary prospectus, or an offering circular containing this and other information. Please read them carefully. Investing involves risk, including the risk of loss.