The State of Connecticut Defined Contribution Plans can give you tax-advantaged control over your financial future. Each offers a broad range of investment options, the real-time Retirement Income Calculator External Site. Opens in a new window. for gauging your progress toward your goals, and a variety of choices when it's time to take income in retirement. Review the basics to learn which plan is right for you. If you are already in the plan(s) and nearing retirement, click here PDF file opens in new window .

Deferred Compensation 457 Plan

  • How do I Enroll and Save for Retirement: Learn about the features associated with the State of Connecticut 457 Plan. This includes a review of the Plan highlights, the importance of proper asset allocation and an overview of the various tools available to help you reach your retirement savings goal.

    Watch this Workshop External Site. Opens in a new window.

  • Open to all State employees (view details)
  • Choice of traditional pre-tax or Roth after-tax contributions (or both)
  • 2023 contributions: up to $22,500; additional $7,500 ("Age 50+ catch-up") and up to $45,000 in "special three-year catch-up" (see Plan Highlights PDF file opens in new window for details). The annual IRS limit applies to the combination of pre-tax and Roth after-tax contributions. For special three-year catch-up eligibility refer to the Plan Document.

403(b) Plan

  • How do I Enroll and Save for Retirement: Learn about the features associated with the State of Connecticut 403(b) Plan. This includes a review of the Plan highlights, the importance of proper asset allocation and an overview of the various tools available to help you reach your retirement savings goal.

    Watch this Workshop External Site. Opens in a new window.

  • Open to State education and hospital/health care employees (view details)
  • Choice of traditional pre-tax or Roth after-tax contributions (or both)
  • 2023 contributions: up to $22,500; additional $7,500 ("Age 50+ catch-up"). The annual IRS limit applies to the combination of pre-tax and Roth after-tax contributions.

Alternate Retirement Program (ARP)

  • Open to State higher education employees to elect on the first day of employment (view details)
  • Contributions (mandatory): Employee: 6.5% of pay (pre-tax); Employer: 6.5% of pay
  • More flexibility to choose investments than in defined benefit plans

Tier IV Defined Contribution Plan

  • An Overview of the State of Connecticut Tier IV Plan: Learn about the features associated with the Defined Benefit and Defined Contribution sections of the Tier IV Plan. This includes a review of the Plan highlights as well as an overview of the various tools available to help you reach your retirement savings goal.

    Watch this Workshop External Site. Opens in a new window.

  • Open to Tier IV employees who were hired on or after July 31, 2017 and are enrolled in Tier IV of the State Employees Retirement System (SERS) or the Tier IV Hybrid Plan
  • Open to Tier 4S employees who were hired on or after July 31, 2017, without having been previously employed by the State of Connecticut, or a former state employee hired as a substitute instructor where all of the following apply:
    1. You are not vested in any SERS plan of which you were previously a member;
    2. You were separated from state service before being hired as a substitute instructor;
    3. The period of your separation from state service lasted at least five years or the length of the period of your vesting service before the separation, whichever is greater; and
    4. You were hired as a substitute instructor in the State Department of Education's Connecticut Technical Education & Career System ("CTECS") on or after July 31, 2017.
  • Contributions (mandatory): Tier IV employee: 1% of pay (pre-tax); Tier 4S employee: 2% of pay (pre-tax); Employer: 1% of pay