Comparison · 2026
TIAA vs Fidelity vs Vanguard vs Empower
There is no universal “best” provider — the right answer depends on what your employer’s plan offers and what you value most. Here’s how the four stack up in plain terms.
| TIAA | Fidelity | Vanguard | Empower | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strength | Guaranteed annuity & lifetime income | Low-cost funds + flexibility | Lowest-cost index funds | Large-plan recordkeeping |
| Index cost | Low–high (share class) | Very low | Very low | Plan-dependent |
| Guaranteed income | Yes — core feature | Limited | Limited | Varies |
| Liquidity | Restricted (Traditional) | Flexible | Flexible | Plan-dependent |
| Best for | Guaranteed floor seekers | Hands-on investors | Set-and-forget indexers | Assigned by employer |
TIAA vs Vanguard
Vanguard pioneered low-cost index investing and is widely regarded as the cost leader; a simple three-fund portfolio there is hard to beat on price. TIAA’s edge is the Traditional Annuity’s guarantee and income options. If you don’t need those, Vanguard is usually the cheaper long-term home for index money.
TIAA vs Fidelity
Fidelity offers very low-cost index funds (including some zero-expense-ratio funds), broad choice and strong support. Like TIAA it often runs on-campus sessions. For most index-focused educators, Fidelity competes closely with Vanguard on cost and beats TIAA’s pricier share classes.
TIAA vs Empower
Empower is primarily a large recordkeeper; what you pay and which funds you get depend heavily on how your specific plan is built. Compare the actual fund lineup and fees in your plan rather than the brand name.