{"id":991,"date":"2022-05-31T19:54:28","date_gmt":"2022-05-31T19:54:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nshe.nevada.edu\/system-administration\/?page_id=991"},"modified":"2026-01-28T11:16:13","modified_gmt":"2026-01-28T19:16:13","slug":"defined-contribution-retirement-plan-alternative-rpa","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/nshe.nevada.edu\/system-administration\/departments\/finance\/retirement\/defined-contribution-retirement-plan-alternative-rpa\/","title":{"rendered":"Defined Contribution Retirement Plan Alternative (RPA)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Plan History and Purpose<\/h2><\/div><\/div><\/div>
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The RPA was instituted as a voluntary plan in 1970. It became the mandatory plan for faculty and professional staff in 1977. All faculty and professional staff working at least half-time equivalent must participate in the plan as a condition of employment. Faculty and staff who have previously participated in PERS are not eligible for the RPA.<\/p>\n\n\n

The plan is called the Retirement Plan Alternative because it serves as an alternative to the Public Employee Retirement System (PERS). Nevada Revised Statute 286.802 authorizes the Board of Regents of the University of Nevada to operate a retirement plan for its employees separate and apart from PERS.<\/p>\n\n\n

The RPA also serves as the alternative to Social Security. The State of Nevada is one of seven states whose employees do not participate in Social Security. The RPA is designed to both replace the benefit you would otherwise have received from Social Security and provide the opportunity to accumulate an even greater benefit than Social Security would have provided.<\/p>\n\n\n

If you have earned a benefit from Social Security before your employment with NSHE or if you earn one after your departure from NSHE, the Social Security benefit you ultimately receive may be affected by your employment with a non-participating employer such as NSHE. To learn more about Social Security\u2019s so-called \u201cWindfall Elimination Provision\u201d visit the Social Security Administration website<\/a>. You can also access an online calculator tool<\/a> to help you understand how the Windfall Elimination Provision might affect you.<\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

How You Participate<\/h2><\/div><\/div><\/div>
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The RPA is the principal retirement vehicle for faculty and professional staff and participation in the plan is mandatory. You contribute a percentage of your salary to the plan each month. The percentage of salary that you must contribute is set by the Nevada State legislature pursuant to Nevada Revised Statute 286.808. The current contribution rate is 19.25%. Your contribution is matched by NSHE. Your contributions are made by salary reduction,\u00a0 that is before tax. You are always 100% vested in your contributions and NSHE\u2019s, which means that it cannot be taken away for any reason.<\/p>\n\n\n

You choose how to invest your own and NSHE\u2019s contributions. The amount of money that you accumulate will greatly depend on the performance of the investments you choose.  TIAA provides dedicated financial consultants that are available Monday through Friday on any of NSHE\u2019s eight campuses to assist you in your investment deliberations.  Until further notice, TIAA is conducting its counseling sessions virtually, to schedule a session, simply visit the TIAA Counseling link<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

When You are Eligible to Receive Your Retirement Benefits<\/h2><\/div><\/div><\/div>
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You are eligible to receive the benefits you accumulate in this plan when you:<\/p>\n\n\n