Common use of TERMS USED IN THIS CONTRACT Clause in Contracts

TERMS USED IN THIS CONTRACT. 1. The contract’s accumulation is equal to the sum of all employees’ accumulations, as well as any unallocated accumulations, under the contract. 2. A beneficiary is any person eligible to receive death benefit payments upon the death of an employee. If none of the beneficiaries named is alive at the time of the employee’s death, or if, at the employee’s death, no beneficiary had ever been named for that employee, then the death benefit will be paid to the person entitled to such benefits under the terms of the employer plan. If the plan does not specify how to distribute such death benefits, the death benefit will be paid to the employee’s estate. If distributions to a named beneficiary are barred by operation of law, the death benefit due that beneficiary will be paid to the employee’s estate. 3. A business day is any day that the New York Stock Exchange, or its successor, is open for trading. A business day ends at 4:00 P.M. Eastern time, or when trading closes on such exchange, if different. 4. The commuted (discounted) value is a one-sum amount paid in lieu of a series of payments that are not contingent upon the survival of an employee or second annuitant. It is less than the total of those payments, because future interest, included when computing the series of payments, will not be earned if payment is to be made in one sum. The commuted value of future payments is therefore the sum of those payments less the interest from the date of commutation to the date each payment would have been made. The same interest rate or rates used in computing the benefit payments will be used to determine the commuted value. 5. The death benefit for an employee is the current value of the employee’s accumulation. 6. An employee is any employee entitled to benefits under the employer plan. 7. An employee’s accumulation is the sum of the employee’s Traditional Annuity accumulation (as defined in section 37) and the employee’s Investment Account accumulations (as defined in section 43). Employees’ rights with respect to these accumulations are those in accordance with the terms of the employer plan. If an employee has a severance from employment with the employer and fails to satisfy the vesting requirements of the employer plan, then in accordance with the terms of the employer plan, the amount of that employee’s accumulation may be applied to a forfeiture account where it will be maintained as an unallocated accumulation as described in section 28. 8. The employer is [ABC Institution]. 9. The employer plan is the retirement plan of the employer as amended from time to time, or any successor retirement plan. Employees’ and beneficiaries’ eligibility to receive benefits available under the contract and the conditions of such benefit payments will be determined by reference to the employer plan, the terms of which comprise valid instructions from the plan administrator for the employer plan to the extent such plan terms do not enlarge the rights otherwise available under the contract. However, neither the contractholder nor the employer plan may modify the manner in which the amounts of any lump-sum benefits, death benefits, or annuity benefits available under the contract are to be calculated. The plan administrator for the employer plan must notify TIAA of any changes to the terms of the employer plan. If TIAA takes any action in good faith before receiving such notice, we will not be subject to liability even if our acts were contrary to the terms of the employer plan as modified by such change. 10. Employer plan fee withdrawals are amounts deducted from the contract’s accumulation in accordance with the terms of the employer plan to pay fees associated with the administration of the plan. 11. ERISA is the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.

TERMS USED IN THIS CONTRACT. 1. The contract’s accumulation is equal to the sum of all employees’ accumulations, as well as any unallocated accumulations, under the contract. 2. A beneficiary is any person eligible to receive death benefit payments upon the death of an employee. If none of the beneficiaries named is alive at the time of the employee’s death, or if, at the employee’s death, no beneficiary had ever been named for that employee, then the death benefit will be paid to the person entitled to such benefits under the terms of the employer plan. If the plan does not specify how to distribute such death benefits, the death benefit will be paid to the employee’s estate. If distributions to a named beneficiary are barred by operation of law, the death benefit due that beneficiary will be paid to the employee’s estate. 3. A business day is any day that the New York Stock Exchange, or its successor, is open for trading. A business day ends at 4:00 P.M. Eastern time, or when trading closes on such exchange, if different. 4. The commuted (discounted) value is a one-sum one‑sum amount paid in lieu of a series of payments that are not contingent upon the survival of an employee or second annuitant. It is less than the total of those payments, because future interest, included when computing the series of payments, will not be earned if payment is to be made in one sum. The commuted value of future payments is therefore the sum of those payments less the interest from the date of commutation to the date each payment would have been made. The same interest rate or rates used in computing the benefit payments will be used to determine the commuted value. 5. The death benefit for an employee is the current value of the employee’s accumulation. 6. An employee is any employee entitled to benefits under the employer plan. 7. An employee’s accumulation is the sum of the employee’s Traditional Annuity accumulation (as defined in section 37) and the employee’s Investment Account accumulations (as defined in section 43). Employees’ rights with respect to these accumulations are those in accordance with the terms of the employer plan. If an employee has a severance from employment with the employer and fails to satisfy the vesting requirements of the employer plan, then in accordance with the terms of the employer plan, the amount of that employee’s accumulation may be applied to a forfeiture account where it will be maintained as an unallocated accumulation as described in section 28. 8. The employer is [ABC Institution]. 9. The employer plan is the retirement plan of the employer as amended from time to time, or any successor retirement plan. Employees’ and beneficiaries’ eligibility to receive benefits available under the contract and the conditions of such benefit payments will be determined by reference to the employer plan, the terms of which comprise valid instructions from the plan administrator for the employer plan to the extent such plan terms do not enlarge the rights otherwise available under the contract. However, neither the contractholder nor the employer plan may modify the manner in which the amounts of any lump-sum benefits, death benefits, or annuity benefits available under the contract are to be calculated. The plan administrator for the employer plan must notify TIAA of any changes to the terms of the employer plan. If TIAA takes any action in good faith before receiving such notice, we will not be subject to liability even if our acts were contrary to the terms of the employer plan as modified by such change. 10. Employer plan fee withdrawals are amounts deducted from the contract’s accumulation in accordance with the terms of the employer plan to pay fees associated with the administration of the plan. 11. ERISA is the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended. 12. Forfeiture account. A forfeiture account is an unallocated suspense account that holds amounts forfeited when an employee has a severance from employment with the employer and fails to satisfy the vesting requirements of the employer plan. The forfeiture account accumulation is the total amounts held in such an account. 13. A funding vehicle is an annuity contract (and any underlying investment options), custodial account trust, mutual fund, or other such similar arrangement designated to receive contributions under the employer plan. A funding vehicle may or may not be administered as part of TIAA’s recordkeeping services for the employer plan. A funding vehicle will be referred to as an internal funding vehicle if it is being administered under the same recordkeeping system as that which is maintaining the individual employee records for this contract, whether or not TIAA is providing those recordkeeping services. Otherwise a funding vehicle will be referred to as an external funding vehicle. 14. The general account consists of all of TIAA's assets other than those in separate accounts. 15. An internal transfer is the movement of accumulations between the employee’s Traditional Annuity accumulation and the employee’s Investment Account accumulations, among an employee’s Investment Account accumulations, or between this contract and a companion CREF contract, if any. The provisions concerning internal transfers are set forth in Part F. 16. An Investment Account under this contract refers to the Real Estate Account. It also refers to any subaccount of any other Separate Account available under this contract, that holds shares of a fund or funds which are managed with a specified investment objective. The Investment Accounts available as of the issue date of this contract are listed on the account specifications page and, for accounts other than the Real Estate Account, are specific to the indicated level. 17. The IRC is the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. All references to any section of the IRC shall be deemed to refer not only to such section but also to any amendment thereof, any successor statutory provisions, and any regulations thereunder.

TERMS USED IN THIS CONTRACT. 1. The contract’s accumulation is equal to the sum of all employees’ accumulations, as well as any unallocated accumulations, accumulations under the contract. 2. A beneficiary is any person eligible to receive death benefit payments upon the death of an employee. If none of the beneficiaries named is alive at the time of the employee’s death, or if, at the employee’s death, no beneficiary had ever been named for that employee, then the death benefit will be paid to the person entitled to such benefits under the terms of the employer plan. If the plan does not specify how to distribute such death benefits, the death benefit will be paid to the employee’s estate. If distributions to a named beneficiary are barred by operation of law, the death benefit due that beneficiary will be paid to the employee’s estate. 3. A business day is any day that the New York Stock Exchange, or its successor, Exchange is open for trading. A business day ends at 4:00 P.M. Eastern time, or when trading closes on such exchangethe New York Stock Exchange, if differentearlier. 4. The commuted (discounted) value is a one-sum amount paid in lieu of a series of payments that are not contingent upon the survival of an employee or second annuitant. It is less than the total of those payments, because future interest, included when computing the series of payments, will not be earned if payment is to be made in one sum. The commuted value of future payments is therefore the sum of those payments less the interest from the date of commutation to the date each payment would have been made. The same interest rate or rates used in computing the benefit payments will be used to determine the commuted value. 5. The death benefit for an employee is the current value of the employee’s accumulation. 6. An employee is any employee entitled to benefits under the employer plan. 7. An employee’s accumulation is the sum of the employee’s Traditional Annuity accumulation (as defined in section 3731) and the employee’s Investment Account accumulations (as defined in section 4337). Employees’ accumulations are maintained for the sole purpose of providing a record of amounts accumulated under the contract on behalf of individual employees. The contractholder owns all employees’ accumulations under the contract. Employees have no ownership rights with respect to these accumulations are those in accordance with the terms of the employer plan. If an employee has a severance from employment with the employer and fails to satisfy the vesting requirements of the employer plan, then in accordance with the terms of the employer plan, the amount of that employee’s accumulation may be applied to a forfeiture account where it will be maintained as an unallocated accumulation as described in section 28accumulations. 8. The employer is [ABC Institution]. 9. The employer plan is the retirement plan of the employer contractholder as amended from time to time, or any successor retirement plan. Employees’ and beneficiaries’ eligibility to receive benefits available under the contract and the conditions of such benefit payments will be determined by reference to the employer plan, the terms of which comprise valid instructions from the plan administrator for the employer plan to the extent such plan terms do not enlarge the rights otherwise available under the contract. However, neither the contractholder nor the employer plan may modify the manner in which the amounts of any lump-sum benefits, death benefits, or annuity benefits available under the contract are to be calculated. The plan administrator for the employer plan contractholder must notify TIAA of any changes to the terms of the employer plan. If TIAA takes any action in good faith before receiving such notice, we will not be subject to liability even if our acts were contrary to the terms of the employer plan as modified by such change. 109. Employer plan fee withdrawals are amounts deducted from the contract’s accumulation in accordance with the terms of the employer plan to pay fees associated with the administration of the plan. 1110. ERISA is the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended. 11. A funding vehicle is an annuity contract, custodial account, or trust designated to receive contributions under the employer plan. 12. The general account consists of all of TIAA’s assets other than those in separate accounts. 13. An internal transfer is the movement of accumulations between the employee’s Traditional Annuity accumulation and the employee’s Investment Account accumulations, among an employee’s Investment Account accumulations, or between this contract and a companion CREF contract, if any. The provisions concerning internal transfers are set forth in Part F. 14. An Investment Account under this contract refers to the Real Estate Account. It also refers to any subaccount of any other Separate Account available under this contract, that holds shares of a fund or funds which are managed with a specified investment objective. The Investment Accounts available as of the issue date of this contract are listed on the account specifications page and, for accounts other than the Real Estate Account, are specific to the indicated level 15. The IRC is the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. All references to any section of the IRC shall be deemed to refer not only to such section but also to any amendment thereof, any successor statutory provisions, and any regulations thereunder. 16. The payee is a person named to receive any periodic payments or amounts due under an income option or death benefit payment method as explained in sections 45 and 49. 17. The rate schedule sets forth the bases for computing the Traditional Annuity accumulation and any benefits and distributions arising from it. To the extent permitted by law, TIAA may change the rate schedule for amounts applied after the change, as explained in section 78. 18. A second annuitant is the person named when an employee starts to receive income under a two-life annuity, to receive an income for life if he or she survives the employee. The second annuitant may be any person eligible under TIAA’s practices then in effect. 19. The Separate Accounts are the accounts described in Part D. 20. A severance from employment occurs when an employee ceases to be employed by the employer that maintains the employer plan. In accordance with the provisions of the IRC and applicable regulations, a severance from employment will be deemed to occur even if the employee continues to perform the same job for a different employer that does not maintain the employer plan after a merger, acquisition, consolidation or other business transaction. 21. A surrender charge will be assessed against any portion of the Traditional Annuity accumulation withdrawn or transferred to provide any lump-sum benefit or internal transfer as shown in the rate schedule. A surrender charge will also be assessed on each contractholder payment paid from the Traditional Annuity as shown in the rate schedule. 22. The Traditional Annuity refers to the guaranteed annuity benefits under the contract. Each premium and internal transfer allocated to the Traditional Annuity under the contract buys a guaranteed minimum amount of income, based on the rate schedule in effect for the contract at the time the premium is paid. 23. A valuation day is any business day, as well as the last calendar day of each month. Valuation days end as of the close of all U.S. national exchanges where securities or other investments of the Investment Accounts are principally traded. Valuation days that aren’t business days end at 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time. A valuation period is the time from the end of a valuation day to the end of the next valuation day.

TERMS USED IN THIS CONTRACT. 1. The contract’s accumulation is equal to the sum of all employees’ accumulations, as well as any unallocated accumulations, accumulations under the contract. 2. A beneficiary is any person eligible to receive death benefit payments upon the death of an employee. If none of the beneficiaries named is alive at the time of the employee’s death, or if, at the employee’s death, no beneficiary had ever been named for that employee, then the death benefit will be paid to the person entitled to such benefits under the terms of the employer plan. If the plan does not specify how to distribute such death benefits, the death benefit will be paid to the employee’s estate. If distributions to a named beneficiary are barred by operation of law, the death benefit due that beneficiary will be paid to the employee’s estate. 3. A business day is any day that the New York Stock Exchange, or its successor, Exchange is open for trading. A business day ends at 4:00 P.M. Eastern time, or when trading closes on such exchangethe New York Stock Exchange, if differentearlier. 4. The commuted (discounted) value is a one-sum amount paid in lieu of a series of payments that are not contingent upon the survival of an employee or second annuitant. It is less than the total of those payments, because future interest, included when computing the series of payments, will not be earned if payment is to be made in one sum. The commuted value of future payments is therefore the sum of those payments less the interest from the date of commutation to the date each payment would have been made. The same interest rate or rates used in computing the benefit payments will be used to determine the commuted value. 5. The death benefit for an employee is the current value of the employee’s accumulation. 6. An employee is any employee entitled to benefits under the employer plan. 7. An employee’s accumulation is the sum of the employee’s Traditional Annuity accumulation (as defined in section 3730) and the employee’s Investment Real Estate Account accumulations accumulation (as defined in section 4334). EmployeesEmployee’s accumulations are maintained for the sole purpose of providing a record of amounts accumulated under the contract on behalf of individual employees. The contractholder owns all employees’ accumulations under the contract. Employees have no ownership rights with respect to these accumulations are those in accordance with the terms of the employer plan. If an employee has a severance from employment with the employer and fails to satisfy the vesting requirements of the employer plan, then in accordance with the terms of the employer plan, the amount of that employee’s accumulation may be applied to a forfeiture account where it will be maintained as an unallocated accumulation as described in section 28accumulations. 8. The employer is [ABC Institution]. 9. The employer plan is the retirement plan of the employer contractholder as amended from time to time, or any successor retirement plan. Employees’ and beneficiaries’ eligibility to receive benefits available under the contract and the conditions of such benefit payments will be determined by reference to the employer plan, the terms of which comprise valid instructions from the plan administrator for the employer plan to the extent such plan terms do not enlarge the rights otherwise available under the contract. However, neither the contractholder nor the employer plan may modify the manner in which the amounts of any lump-sum benefits, death benefits, or annuity benefits available under the contract are to be calculated. The plan administrator for the employer plan contractholder must notify TIAA of any changes to the terms of the employer plan. If TIAA takes any action in good faith before receiving such notice, we will not be subject to liability even if our acts were contrary to the terms of the employer plan as modified by such change. 109. Employer plan fee withdrawals are amounts deducted from the contract’s accumulation in accordance with the terms of the employer plan to pay fees associated with the administration of the plan. 1110. ERISA is the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended. 11. A funding vehicle is an annuity contract, custodial account, or trust designated to receive contributions under the employer plan. 12. The general account consists of all of TIAA’s assets other than those in separate accounts. 13. An internal transfer is the movement of accumulations between the employee’s Traditional Annuity accumulation and the employee’s Real Estate Account accumulation, or between this contract and a companion CREF contract, if any. The provisions concerning internal transfers are set forth in Part F. 14. The IRC is the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. All references to any section of the IRC shall be deemed to refer not only to such section but also to any amendment thereof, any successor statutory provisions, and any regulations thereunder. 15. The payee is a person named to receive any periodic payments or amounts due under an income option or death benefit payment method as explained in sections 40 and 44. 16. The rate schedule sets forth the bases for computing the Traditional Annuity accumulation and any benefits and distributions arising from it. To the extent permitted by law, TIAA may change the rate schedule for amounts applied after the change, as explained in section 70. 17. A second annuitant is the person named when an employee starts to receive income under a two-life annuity, to receive an income for life if he or she survives the employee. The second annuitant may be any person eligible under TIAA’s practices then in effect.

TERMS USED IN THIS CONTRACT. 1. The contract’s accumulation is equal to the sum of all employees’ accumulations, as well as any unallocated accumulations, under the contract. 2. A beneficiary is any person eligible to receive death benefit payments upon the death of an employee. If none of the beneficiaries named is alive at the time of the employee’s death, or if, at the employee’s death, no beneficiary had ever been named for that employee, then the death benefit will be paid to the person entitled to such benefits under the terms of the employer plan. If the plan does not specify how to distribute such death benefits, the death benefit will be paid to the employee’s estate. If distributions to a named beneficiary are barred by operation of law, the death benefit due that beneficiary will be paid to the employee’s estate. 3. A business day is any day that the New York Stock Exchange, or its successor, is open for trading. A business day ends at 4:00 P.M. Eastern time, or when trading closes on such exchange, if different. 4. The commuted (discounted) value is a one-sum amount paid in lieu of a series of payments that are not contingent upon the survival of an employee or second annuitant. It is less than the total of those payments, because future interest, included when computing the series of payments, will not be earned if payment is to be made in one sum. The commuted value of future payments is therefore the sum of those payments less the interest from the date of commutation to the date each payment would have been made. The same interest rate or rates used in computing the benefit payments will be used to determine the commuted value. 5. The death benefit for an employee is the current value of the employee’s accumulation. 6. An employee is any employee entitled to benefits under the employer plan. 7. An employee’s accumulation is the sum of the employee’s Traditional Annuity accumulation (as defined in section 3736) and the employee’s Investment Account accumulations (as defined in section 4342). Employees’ accumulations are maintained for the sole purpose of providing a record of amounts accumulated under the contract on behalf of individual employees. The contractholder, on behalf of the employer plan, as sole party to the contract retains all rights under the contract with respect to employee’s accumulations. Employees’ rights with respect to these accumulations are those in accordance with the terms of the employer planplan and as delegated to them by the contractholder. If an employee has a severance from employment with the employer and fails to satisfy the vesting requirements of the employer plan, then in accordance with the terms of the employer plan, contractholder may apply the amount of that employee’s accumulation may be applied to a forfeiture account where it will be maintained as an unallocated accumulation as described in section 2827. 8. The employer is [ABC Institution]. 9. The employer plan is the retirement plan of the employer contractholder as amended from time to time, or any successor retirement plan. Employees’ and beneficiaries’ eligibility to receive benefits available under the contract and the conditions of such benefit payments will be determined by reference to the employer plan, the terms of which comprise valid instructions from the plan administrator for the employer plan contractholder to the extent such plan terms do not enlarge the rights otherwise available under the contract. However, neither the The contractholder nor the employer plan may modify the manner in which the amounts of any lump-sum benefits, death benefits, or annuity benefits available under the contract are to be calculated. The plan administrator for the employer plan must notify TIAA of any changes to the terms of the employer plan. If TIAA takes any action in good faith before receiving such notice, we will not be subject to liability even if our acts were contrary to the terms of the employer plan as modified by such change. 109. Employer plan fee withdrawals are amounts deducted from the contract’s accumulation in accordance with the terms of the employer plan to pay fees associated with the administration of the plan. 1110. ERISA is the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.

TERMS USED IN THIS CONTRACT. 1. The contract’s accumulation is equal to the sum of all employees’ accumulations, as well as any unallocated accumulations, under the contract. 2. A beneficiary is any person eligible to receive death benefit payments upon the death of an employee. If none of the beneficiaries named is alive at the time of the employee’s death, or if, at the employee’s death, no beneficiary had ever been named for that employee, then the death benefit will be paid to the person entitled to such benefits under the terms of the employer plan. If the plan does not specify how to distribute such death benefits, the death benefit will be paid to the employee’s estate. If distributions to a named beneficiary are barred by operation of law, the death benefit due that beneficiary will be paid to the employee’s estate. 3. A business day is any day that the New York Stock Exchange, or its successor, is open for trading. A business day ends at 4:00 P.M. Eastern time, or when trading closes on such exchange, if different. 4. The commuted (discounted) value is a one-sum amount paid in lieu of a series of payments that are not contingent upon the survival of an employee or second annuitant. It is less than the total of those payments, because future interest, included when computing the series of payments, will not be earned if payment is to be made in one sum. The commuted value of future payments is therefore the sum of those payments less the interest from the date of commutation to the date each payment would have been made. The same interest rate or rates used in computing the benefit payments will be used to determine the commuted value. 5. The death benefit for an employee is the current value of the employee’s accumulation. 6. An employee is any employee entitled to benefits under the employer plan. 7. An employee’s accumulation is the sum of the employee’s Traditional Annuity accumulation (as defined in section 37) and the employee’s Investment Account accumulations (as defined in section 43). Employees’ rights with respect to these accumulations are those in accordance with the terms of the employer plan. If an employee has a severance from employment with the employer and fails to satisfy the vesting requirements of the employer plan, then in accordance with the terms of the employer plan, the amount of that employee’s accumulation may be applied to a forfeiture account where it will be maintained as an unallocated accumulation as described in section 28. 8. The employer is [ABC Institution]. 9. The employer plan is the retirement plan of the employer as amended from time to time, or any successor retirement plan. Employees’ and beneficiaries’ eligibility to receive benefits available under the contract and the conditions of such benefit payments will be determined by reference to the employer plan, the terms of which comprise valid instructions from the plan administrator for the employer plan to the extent such plan terms do not enlarge the rights otherwise available under the contract. However, neither the contractholder nor the employer plan may modify the manner in which the amounts of any lump-sum benefits, death benefits, or annuity benefits available under the contract are to be calculated. The plan administrator for the employer plan must notify TIAA of any changes to the terms of the employer plan. If TIAA takes any action in good faith before receiving such notice, we will not be subject to liability even if our acts were contrary to the terms of the employer plan as modified by such change. 10. Employer plan fee withdrawals are amounts deducted from the contract’s accumulation in accordance with the terms of the employer plan to pay fees associated with the administration of the plan. 11. ERISA is the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.

TERMS USED IN THIS CONTRACT. 1. The contract’s accumulation is equal to the sum of all employees’ accumulations, as well as any unallocated accumulations, under the contract. 2. A beneficiary is any person eligible to receive death benefit payments upon the death of an employee. If none of the beneficiaries named is alive at the time of the employee’s death, or if, at the employee’s death, no beneficiary had ever been named for that employee, then the death benefit will be paid to the person entitled to such benefits under the terms of the employer plan. If the plan does not specify how to distribute such death benefits, the death benefit will be paid to the employee’s estate. If distributions to a named beneficiary are barred by operation of law, the death benefit due that beneficiary will be paid to the employee’s estate. 3. A business day is any day that the New York Stock Exchange, or its successor, is open for trading. A business day ends at 4:00 P.M. Eastern time, or when trading closes on such exchange, if different. 4. The commuted (discounted) value is a one-sum amount paid in lieu of a series of payments that are not contingent upon the survival of an employee or second annuitant. It is less than the total of those payments, because future interest, included when computing the series of payments, will not be earned if payment is to be made in one sum. The commuted value of future payments is therefore the sum of those payments less the interest from the date of commutation to the date each payment would have been made. The same interest rate or rates used in computing the benefit payments will be used to determine the commuted value. 5. The death benefit for an employee is the current value Coordinated transactions will be deemed to be occurring if TIAA becomes aware that, within 12 months prior to TIAA’s receipt of the employee’s accumulation. 6. An employee is any employee entitled request of a duly authorized plan representative to benefits under begin one or more Plan Directed Payments from the employer plan. 7. An employee’s accumulation is the sum of the employee’s Traditional Annuity accumulation (as defined in section 37) and the employeeor at any time after TIAA’s Investment Account accumulations (as defined in section 43). Employees’ rights with respect to these accumulations are those in accordance with the terms receipt of the employer plan. If an employee has a severance from employment with the employer and fails to satisfy the vesting requirements of the employer plan, then in accordance with the terms of the employer plansuch request, the amount of that employee’s accumulation may be applied to a forfeiture account where it will be maintained as an unallocated accumulation as described in section 28. 8. The employer is [ABC Institution]. 9. The employer plan is the retirement sponsor, plan of the employer as amended from time to timeadministrator, employer, or any successor other party has engaged in an effort to coach or encourage groups of employees to request internal transfers, retirement plan. Employees’ and beneficiaries’ eligibility to receive benefits available under the contract and the conditions of such benefit payments will be determined by reference to the employer planplan loans, the terms of which comprise valid instructions from the plan administrator for the employer plan to the extent such plan terms do not enlarge the rights otherwise available under the contract. However, neither the contractholder nor the employer plan may modify the manner in which the amounts of any or lump-sum benefits, death benefits, or annuity benefits available under the contract are to be calculated. The plan administrator for the employer plan must notify TIAA of any changes to the terms of the employer plan. If TIAA takes any action in good faith before receiving such notice, we will not be subject to liability even if our acts were contrary to the terms of the employer plan as modified by such changefrom their Traditional Annuity accumulations. 10. Employer plan fee withdrawals are amounts deducted from the contract’s accumulation in accordance with the terms of the employer plan to pay fees associated with the administration of the plan. 11. ERISA is the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.

TERMS USED IN THIS CONTRACT. 1. The contract’s accumulation is equal to the sum of all employees’ accumulations, as well as any unallocated accumulations, accumulations under the contract. 2. A beneficiary is any person eligible to receive death benefit payments upon the death of an employee. If none of the beneficiaries named is alive at the time of the employee’s death, or if, at the employee’s death, no beneficiary had ever been named for that employee, then the death benefit will be paid to the person entitled to such benefits under the terms of the employer plan. If the plan does not specify how to distribute such death benefits, the death benefit will be paid to the employee’s estate. If distributions to a named beneficiary are barred by operation of law, the death benefit due that beneficiary will be paid to the employee’s estate. 3. A business day is any day that the New York Stock Exchange, or its successor, Exchange is open for trading. A business day ends at 4:00 P.M. Eastern time, or when trading closes on such exchangethe New York Stock Exchange, if differentearlier. 4. The commuted (discounted) value is a one-sum amount paid in lieu of a series of payments that are not contingent upon the survival of an employee or second annuitant. It is less than the total of those payments, because future interest, included when computing the series of payments, will not be earned if payment is to be made in one sum. The commuted value of future payments is therefore the sum of those payments less the interest from the date of commutation to the date each payment would have been made. The same interest rate or rates used in computing the benefit payments will be used to determine the commuted value. 5. The death benefit for an employee is the current value of the employee’s accumulation. 6. An employee is any employee entitled to benefits under the employer plan. 7. An employee’s accumulation is the sum of the employee’s Traditional Annuity accumulation (as defined in section 3731) and the employee’s Investment Real Estate Account accumulations accumulation (as defined in section 4335). EmployeesEmployee’s accumulations are maintained for the sole purpose of providing a record of amounts accumulated under the contract on behalf of individual employees. The contractholder owns all employees’ accumulations under the contract. Employees have no ownership rights with respect to these accumulations are those in accordance with the terms of the employer plan. If an employee has a severance from employment with the employer and fails to satisfy the vesting requirements of the employer plan, then in accordance with the terms of the employer plan, the amount of that employee’s accumulation may be applied to a forfeiture account where it will be maintained as an unallocated accumulation as described in section 28accumulations. 8. The employer is [ABC Institution]. 9. The employer plan is the retirement plan of the employer contractholder as amended from time to time, or any successor retirement plan. Employees’ and beneficiaries’ eligibility to receive benefits available under the contract and the conditions of such benefit payments will be determined by reference to the employer plan, the terms of which comprise valid instructions from the plan administrator for the employer plan to the extent such plan terms do not enlarge the rights otherwise available under the contract. However, neither the contractholder nor the employer plan may modify the manner in which the amounts of any lump-sum benefits, death benefits, or annuity benefits available under the contract are to be calculated. The plan administrator for the employer plan contractholder must notify TIAA of any changes to the terms of the employer plan. If TIAA takes any action in good faith before receiving such notice, we will not be subject to liability even if our acts were contrary to the terms of the employer plan as modified by such change. 109. Employer plan fee withdrawals are amounts deducted from the contract’s accumulation in accordance with the terms of the employer plan to pay fees associated with the administration of the plan. 1110. ERISA is the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended. 11. A funding vehicle is an annuity contract, custodial account, or trust designated to receive contributions under the employer plan. 12. The general account consists of all of TIAA’s assets other than those in separate accounts. 13. An internal transfer is the movement of accumulations between the employee’s Traditional Annuity accumulation and the employee’s Real Estate Account accumulation, or between this contract and a companion CREF contract, if any. The provisions concerning internal transfers are set forth in Part F. 14. The IRC is the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. All references to any section of the IRC shall be deemed to refer not only to such section but also to any amendment thereof, any successor statutory provisions, and any regulations thereunder. 15. The payee is a person named to receive any periodic payments or amounts due under an income option or death benefit payment method as explained in sections 41 and 45. 16. The rate schedule sets forth the bases for computing the Traditional Annuity accumulation and any benefits and distributions arising from it. To the extent permitted by law, TIAA may change the rate schedule for amounts applied after the change, as explained in section 73. 17. A second annuitant is the person named when an employee starts to receive income under a two-life annuity, to receive an income for life if he or she survives the employee. The second annuitant may be any person eligible under TIAA’s practices then in effect.

TERMS USED IN THIS CONTRACT. 1. The contract’s accumulation is equal to the sum of all employees’ accumulations, as well as any unallocated accumulations, accumulations under the contract. 2. A beneficiary is any person eligible to receive death benefit payments upon the death of an employee. If none of the beneficiaries named is alive at the time of the employee’s death, or if, at the employee’s death, no beneficiary had ever been named for that employee, then the death benefit will be paid to the person entitled to such benefits under the terms of the employer plan. If the plan does not specify how to distribute such death benefits, the death benefit will be paid to the employee’s estate. If distributions to a named beneficiary are barred by operation of law, the death benefit due that beneficiary will be paid to the employee’s estate. 3. A business day is any day that the New York Stock Exchange, or its successor, Exchange is open for trading. A business day ends at 4:00 P.M. Eastern time, or when trading closes on such exchangethe New York Stock Exchange, if differentearlier. 4. The commuted (discounted) value is a one-sum amount paid in lieu of a series of payments that are not contingent upon the survival of an employee or second annuitant. It is less than the total of those payments, because future interest, included when computing the series of payments, will not be earned if payment is to be made in one sum. The commuted value of future payments is therefore the sum of those payments less the interest from the date of commutation to the date each payment would have been made. The same interest rate or rates used in computing the benefit payments will be used to determine the commuted value. 5. The death benefit for an employee is the current value of the employee’s accumulation. 6. An employee is any employee entitled to benefits under the employer plan. 7. An employee’s accumulation is the sum of the employee’s Traditional Annuity accumulation (as defined in section 3732) and the employee’s Investment Account accumulations (as defined in section 4338). Employees’ accumulations are maintained for the sole purpose of providing a record of amounts accumulated under the contract on behalf of individual employees. The contractholder owns all employees’ accumulations under the contract. Employees have no ownership rights with respect to these accumulations are those in accordance with the terms of the employer plan. If an employee has a severance from employment with the employer and fails to satisfy the vesting requirements of the employer plan, then in accordance with the terms of the employer plan, the amount of that employee’s accumulation may be applied to a forfeiture account where it will be maintained as an unallocated accumulation as described in section 28accumulations. 8. The employer is [ABC Institution]. 9. The employer plan is the retirement plan of the employer contractholder as amended from time to time, or any successor retirement plan. Employees’ and beneficiaries’ eligibility to receive benefits available under the contract and the conditions of such benefit payments will be determined by reference to the employer plan, the terms of which comprise valid instructions from the plan administrator for the employer plan to the extent such plan terms do not enlarge the rights otherwise available under the contract. However, neither the contractholder nor the employer plan may modify the manner in which the amounts of any lump-sum benefits, death benefits, or annuity benefits available under the contract are to be calculated. The plan administrator for the employer plan contractholder must notify TIAA of any changes to the terms of the employer plan. If TIAA takes any action in good faith before receiving such notice, we will not be subject to liability even if our acts were contrary to the terms of the employer plan as modified by such change. 109. Employer plan fee withdrawals are amounts deducted from the contract’s accumulation in accordance with the terms of the employer plan to pay fees associated with the administration of the plan. 1110. ERISA is the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended. 11. A funding vehicle is an annuity contract, custodial account, or trust designated to receive contributions under the employer plan. 12. The general account consists of all of TIAA’s assets other than those in separate accounts. 13. An internal transfer is the movement of accumulations between the employee’s Traditional Annuity accumulation and the employee’s Investment Account accumulations, among an employee’s Investment Account accumulations, or between this contract and a companion CREF contract, if any. The provisions concerning internal transfers are set forth in Part F. 14. An Investment Account under this contract refers to the Real Estate Account. It also refers to any subaccount of any other Separate Account available under this contract, that holds shares of a fund or funds which are managed with a specified investment objective. The Investment Accounts available as of the issue date of this contract are listed on the account specifications page and, for accounts other than the Real Estate Account, are specific to the indicated level. 15. The IRC is the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. All references to any section of the IRC shall be deemed to refer not only to such section but also to any amendment thereof, any successor statutory provisions, and any regulations thereunder. 16. The payee is a person named to receive any periodic payments or amounts due under an income option or death benefit payment method as explained in sections 46 and 50. 17. The rate schedule sets forth the bases for computing the Traditional Annuity accumulation and any benefits and distributions arising from it. To the extent permitted by law, TIAA may change the rate schedule for amounts applied after the change, as explained in section 81. 18. A second annuitant is the person named when an employee starts to receive income under a two-life annuity, to receive an income for life if he or she survives the employee. The second annuitant may be any person eligible under TIAA’s practices then in effect. 19. The Separate Accounts are the accounts described in Part D. 20. A severance from employment occurs when an employee ceases to be employed by the employer that maintains the employer plan. In accordance with the provisions of the IRC and applicable regulations, a severance from employment will be deemed to occur even if the employee continues to perform the same job for a different employer that does not maintain the employer plan after a merger, acquisition, consolidation or other business transaction. 21. A surrender charge will be assessed against any portion of the Traditional Annuity accumulation withdrawn as a lump-sum benefit as shown in the rate schedule. A surrender charge will also be assessed on each contractholder payment paid from the Traditional Annuity as shown in the rate schedule. 22. Termination of employment for the purpose of determining the availability of the lump-sum benefit is a bona fide cessation of an employment relationship with the employer. Dissolution or modification of the employer plan; changes in the name or affiliation of the employer; leaves of absence, with or without pay; vacations; or other events not in fact a termination of employment will not be considered a termination of employment. 23. The Traditional Annuity refers to the guaranteed annuity benefits under the contract. Each premium and internal transfer allocated to the Traditional Annuity under the contract buys a guaranteed minimum amount of income, based on the rate schedule in effect for the contract at the time the premium is paid. 24. A valuation day is any business day, as well as the last calendar day of each month. Valuation days end as of the close of all U.S. national exchanges where securities or other investments of the Investment Accounts are principally traded. Valuation days that aren’t business days end at 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time. A valuation period is the time from the end of a valuation day to the end of the next valuation day.

TERMS USED IN THIS CONTRACT. 1. The contract’s accumulation is equal to the sum of all employees’ accumulations, as well as any unallocated accumulations, under the contract. 2. A beneficiary is any person eligible to receive death benefit payments upon the death of an employee. If none of the beneficiaries named is alive at the time of the employee’s death, or if, at the employee’s death, no beneficiary had ever been named for that employee, then the death benefit will be paid to the person entitled to such benefits under the terms of the employer plan. If the plan does not specify how to distribute such death benefits, the death benefit will be paid to the employee’s estate. If distributions to a named beneficiary are barred by operation of law, the death benefit due that beneficiary will be paid to the employee’s estate. 3. A business day is any day that the New York Stock Exchange, or its successor, is open for trading. A business day ends at 4:00 P.M. Eastern time, or when trading closes on such exchange, if different. 4. The commuted (discounted) value is a one-sum one‑sum amount paid in lieu of a series of payments that are not contingent upon the survival of an employee or second annuitant. It is less than the total of those payments, because future interest, included when computing the series of payments, will not be earned if payment is to be made in one sum. The commuted value of future payments is therefore the sum of those payments less the interest from the date of commutation to the date each payment would have been made. The same interest rate or rates used in computing the benefit payments will be used to determine the commuted value. 5. The death benefit for an employee is the current value of the employee’s accumulation. 6. An employee is any employee entitled to benefits under the employer plan. 7. An employee’s accumulation is the sum of the employee’s Traditional Annuity accumulation (as defined in section 37) and the employee’s Investment Account accumulations (as defined in section 43). Employees’ rights with respect to these accumulations are those in accordance with the terms of the employer plan. If an employee has a severance from employment with the employer and fails to satisfy the vesting requirements of the employer plan, then in accordance with the terms of the employer plan, the amount of that employee’s accumulation may be applied to a forfeiture account where it will be maintained as an unallocated accumulation as described in section 28. 8. The employer is [ABC Institution]. 9. The employer plan is the retirement plan of the employer as amended from time to time, or any successor retirement plan. Employees’ and beneficiaries’ eligibility to receive benefits available under the contract and the conditions of such benefit payments will be determined by reference to the employer plan, the terms of which comprise valid instructions from the plan administrator for the employer plan to the extent such plan terms do not enlarge the rights otherwise available under the contract. However, neither the contractholder nor the employer plan may modify the manner in which the amounts of any lump-sum benefits, death benefits, or annuity benefits available under the contract are to be calculated. The plan administrator for the employer plan must notify TIAA of any changes to the terms of the employer plan. If TIAA takes any action in good faith before receiving such notice, we will not be subject to liability even if our acts were contrary to the terms of the employer plan as modified by such change. 10. Employer plan fee withdrawals are amounts deducted from the contract’s accumulation in accordance with the terms of the employer plan to pay fees associated with the administration of the plan. 11. ERISA is the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.

TERMS USED IN THIS CONTRACT. 1. The contract’s accumulation is equal to the sum of all employees’ accumulations, as well as any unallocated accumulations, under the contract. 2. A beneficiary is any person eligible to receive death benefit payments upon the death of an employee. If none of the beneficiaries named is alive at the time of the employee’s death, or if, at the employee’s death, no beneficiary had ever been named for that employee, then the death benefit will be paid to the person entitled to such benefits under the terms of the employer plan. If the plan does not specify how to distribute such death benefits, the death benefit will be paid to the employee’s estate. If distributions to a named beneficiary are barred by operation of law, the death benefit due that beneficiary will be paid to the employee’s estate. 3. A business day is any day that the New York Stock Exchange, or its successor, is open for trading. A business day ends at 4:00 P.M. Eastern time, or when trading closes on such exchange, if different. 4. The commuted (discounted) value is a one-sum amount paid in lieu of a series of payments that are not contingent upon the survival of an employee or second annuitant. It is less than the total of those payments, because future interest, included when computing the series of payments, will not be earned if payment is to be made in one sum. The commuted value of future payments is therefore the sum of those payments less the interest from the date of commutation to the date each payment would have been made. The same interest rate or rates used in computing the benefit payments will be used to determine the commuted value. 5. Coordinated transactions will be deemed to be occurring if TIAA becomes aware that, within 12 months prior to TIAA’s receipt of the contractholder’s request to begin contractholder payments from the Traditional Annuity accumulation or at any time after TIAA’s receipt of such request, the contractholder, Plan Sponsor, employer, or any other party has engaged in an effort to coach or encourage groups of employees to request internal transfers, retirement plan loans, or lump-sum benefits from their Traditional Annuity accumulations. 6. The death benefit for an employee is the current value of the employee’s accumulation. 67. An employee is any employee entitled to benefits under the employer plan. 78. An employee’s accumulation is the sum of the employee’s Traditional Annuity accumulation (as defined in section 3736) and the employee’s Investment Account accumulations (as defined in section 4342). Employees’ accumulations are maintained for the sole purpose of providing a record of amounts accumulated under the contract on behalf of individual employees. The contractholder, on behalf of the employer plan, as sole party to the contract retains all rights under the contract with respect to employee’s accumulations. Employees’ rights with respect to these accumulations are those in accordance with the terms of the employer planplan and as delegated to them by the contractholder. If an employee has a severance from employment with the employer and fails to satisfy the vesting requirements of the employer plan, then in accordance with the terms of the employer plan, contractholder may apply the amount of that employee’s accumulation may be applied to a forfeiture account where it will be maintained as an unallocated accumulation as described in section 28. 8. The employer is [ABC Institution]27. 9. The employer plan is the retirement plan of the employer contractholder as amended from time to time, or any successor retirement plan. Employees’ and beneficiaries’ eligibility to receive benefits available under the contract and the conditions of such benefit payments will be determined by reference to the employer plan, the terms of which comprise valid instructions from the plan administrator for the employer plan contractholder to the extent such plan terms do not enlarge the rights otherwise available under the contract. However, neither the The contractholder nor the employer plan may modify the manner in which the amounts of any lump-sum benefits, death benefits, or annuity benefits available under the contract are to be calculated. The plan administrator for the employer plan must notify TIAA of any changes to the terms of the employer plan. If TIAA takes any action in good faith before receiving such notice, we will not be subject to liability even if our acts were contrary to the terms of the employer plan as modified by such change. 10. Employer plan fee withdrawals are amounts deducted from the contract’s accumulation in accordance with the terms of the employer plan to pay fees associated with the administration of the plan. 11. ERISA is the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.