Effective Jan 1, 2026, Vanderbilt will increase its voluntary matching contributions from 3% to 3.5%. This increase, coupled with the mandatory contribution match of 3%, moves the total match of retirement contributions from 6% to 6.5%. Vanderbilt is committed to helping its employees to prepare for the future, and this increase in the retirement match demonstrates that unwavering commitment.
How the match works
Full-time regular faculty and staff, and part-time regular staff are automatically enrolled in the Vanderbilt retirement plan with mandatory 3% contributions of pre-tax salary. You may elect a voluntary contribution for which Vanderbilt will match up to 3.5%. This match applies to pre-tax and Roth (after-tax) contributions. Here are some examples to demonstrate how the voluntary match works.
Example 1: If you elect 6% voluntary contributions, your total employee contribution will be 9% (3% mandatory + 6% voluntary = 9% total employee contribution). Vanderbilt will match a total of 6.5% of these contributions.
Example 2: If you elect 2% voluntary, your total employee contribution will be 5% (3% mandatory + 2% voluntary = 5% total employee contribution). Vanderbilt will match a total of 5% of these contributions. Note that this election does not maximize Vanderbilt’s 3.5% voluntary matching contribution.
Example 3: If you elect 2% voluntary pre-tax, and 2% voluntary Roth (after-tax), your total employee contribution will be 7% (3% mandatory + 2% voluntary pre-tax + 2% voluntary Roth = 7% total employee contribution). Vanderbilt will match 6.5% of these contributions (3% mandatory + 2% voluntary pre-tax + 1.5% Roth).
What you need to do
If you currently have a voluntary contribution rate of 3.5% or more, you do not need to take any action. The increased match will automatically be included in your future pay checks.
If you currently contribute less than 3.5%, you may want to consider increasing your contribution rate to take advantage of the full match from Vanderbilt. Instructions on how to make changes are below. If you choose to leave your contributions as they are now, you will still receive matching contributions of up to 3.5%.
How to make voluntary contribution changes
You may make changes to your retirement contributions at any time during the year. Once your contribution elections have been made, changes take effect in the next one to two payroll cycles. There are three ways to make changes:
- Option 1 – Call Fidelity’s Retirement Service Center at 800-343-0860 and request to have your voluntary contributions in the Vanderbilt Retirement Plan changed.
- Option 2 – Complete through Fidelity NetBenefits. This step-by-step guide can help you through the process.
- Option 3 – Complete through Fidelity NetBenefits mobile app.
