Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: Where do I get a Member Information Form?
A1: You can request the Member Information Form from either your employer or ICMA-RC at 1-888-711-8773. Member Information Forms are also available in the Publications and Forms section of this Web site or in the pocket of the TRS Plan 3: Journey To Retirement (251K PDF) publication.

Q2: Can I change my contribution rate once it is selected?
A2: You can only change your contribution rate when you change employers or during contribution rate flexibility periods each January as permitted by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

Q3: Can I change my investment program?
A3: You may change TRS Plan 3 Investment Programs at any time. To transfer money between the WSIB and Self-Directed investment programs, contact ICMA-RC. To change which investment program your current contributions go to, contact your employer.

Q4: When do I call DRS and when do I call ICMA-RC?
A4: If you have questions about TRS Plan 3, use the following guidelines to obtain your answers.

Contact the Department of Retirement Systems (DRS) if you have questions about the following:

• Defined Benefit
• Contributions
• Service credit
• Timing of employer reporting and contribution processing
• Bill payments
• Beneficiary information
• Defined Benefit publications/brochures, such as your TRS Member Handbook.

Contact ICMA Retirement Corporation (ICMA-RC) for information about the following:

• Investment funds
• Investment education seminars
• Quarterly statements
• Defined Contribution related TRS Plan 3 publications/brochures, such as the Plan 3 Investment Guide and TRS Plan 3: Journey To Retirement.
• Transferring money between Self-Directed funds
• Plan 3 forms
• Changing your Self-Directed allocation
• Transferring money from one investment program to another (WSIB to Self-Directed or Self-Directed to WSIB)
• Account balance
• Status of withdrawal requests (or to request withdrawal forms)
• Tax withholding related to withdrawals

Q5: How do I redirect my contributions from one investment program to the other? (e.g., from WSIB to Self-Directed or from Self-Directed to WSIB)? Where do I get the form? Where do I send my completed form?
A5: You can change where your contributions are directed by using the Plan 3 Change of Investment Program Form (133K PDF). The form can be obtained from your employer or from the Publications and Forms section of this Web site. Your completed form should be sent directly to your employer.

Q6: How are new Plan 3 Defined Contribution investment funds established?
A6: The Washington State Investment Board (WSIB) establishes fund options based on recommendations received from the Employee Retirement Benefits Board (ERBB).

Q7: When can I withdraw my balance under Plan 3?
A7: You can elect to withdraw the funds in your TRS Plan 3 defined contribution account any time after you separate from all TRS-covered employment.

Q8: How do I transfer balances between the WSIB and Self-Directed Investment Programs?
A8: You can transfer balances between the two investment programs by either calling an ICMA-RC representative at 1-888-711-8773 or by using the Plan 3 Investment Program Transfer Form, (28K PDF) available from your employer, ICMA-RC, or the Publications and Forms section of this Web site. Your completed form should be sent directly to ICMA-RC.

Q9: How do I establish an investment allocation for the Self-Directed Investment Program or transfer money between self-directed funds?
A9: You have three options:

The quickest methods to initiate a change or establish an allocation:

1. Access the Account Access section of this Web site. You will need to request a password before receiving authorization to access your account; or
2. Call ICMA-RC at 1-888-711-8773 and use VantageLine or speak directly with an ICMA-RC service representative; or

A third option to initiate a change or establish an allocation, which may take longer, is:

3. Use the Plan 3 Investment Allocation Form (25K PDF), available from your employer, ICMA-RC, or the Publications and Forms section of this Web site. Your completed form should be sent directly to ICMA-RC.

Q10: If I am already contributing to the Self-Directed Investment Program, how do I change allocations of my future contributions within the program?
A10: Follow the same directions as stated in the answer to Question 9.

Q11: How often can I move money between funds in the Self-Directed Investment Program?
A11: Effective July 7, 2006 if you transfer more than $1,000 out of a fund you will not be able to transfer money back into that same fund for 30 calendar days. This does not apply to withdrawals, mandatory distributions and transactions initiated by the Department of Retirement Systems (DRS). There is more information available in the May 2006, Plan 3 Special Report.

Q12: Can I view share prices and fund information for TRS Plan 3 funds?
A12: Yes, you can, from the Investment Options section of this Web site.

Q13: Can I perform transactions on my account on-line?
A13: Yes, you can perform transactions on-line. Accessing the Account Access section of this Web site allows you to view your account balance, change contribution allocations, view a copy of your statement and more. SSL-compliant browsers will be required to complete the secure exchange of information. For more information, visit our site and security requirements information page.

Q14: What security measures are you taking to protect member account data?
A14: Security and client confidentiality are of paramount concern to us in making participant data available on the Internet. An account number and unique password will be required as well as an SSL-compliant browser. For more information, visit our site and security requirements information page. Passwords will be provided upon request via an on-line form or by calling ICMA-RC at 1-888-711-8773. Passwords will be sent to the user via U.S. mail to the address used for statement mailing.

Q15: How can I print information from a specific page?
A15: In most cases you may select “File” and “Print” on your browser menu. However, some parts of our Web site use frames. To print information on a specific page from within an area that uses frames, click inside the area you wish to print, then select “File” and “Print Frame” or “File” and “Print” from your browser menus. This will print only the information in the frame you selected.