Hello,

I know I need to start saving for retirement and my goal is to explore options currently available to me. However, this is new to me and I’m not sure how to proceed!

I currently work part-time and do not have access to a 401(k) through my employer. I do, however, have access to two tax-deferred plans: the 403(b) Supplemental Retirement Annuity (SRA) and the 457(b) Deferred Compensation Plan (457). From what I can gather, my employer will contribute a small amount to the 403(b). I also have to select either TIAA-CREF or AUL as an investment option. I DO plan on talking to someone at Human Resources for additional information later this week, but does anyone have experience with either of these plans, TIAA-CREF and/or AUL?

Before I learned I had access to a 403 and 457 through work I was starting to explore the Roth IRA, and am still interested in this option since I can fund it with money I’ve already paid taxes on. My credit union offers assistance setting this up, but again, I plan on doing more research before jumping in head first. My second set of questions (sorry for the barrage!): Since I don’t make that much to begin with should I look into setting up a Roth IRA and one of the options through work? Or should I focus on a Roth IRA while bulking up my emergency savings?

Any advice would be much appreciated.