Specialized and active-trading brokers
Broker Review
nonprofit TIAA, TIAA Brokerage
Founded or launched in 1918 by Carnegie Foundation initiative; nonprofit TIAA, TIAA Brokerage sits within TIAA’s retirement-services ecosystem and provides brokerage access beyond plan menus. Its service model, regulatory registrations and custody arrangements should be considered together because the customer-facing name may span more than one legal entity. The service is not separately listed and therefore has no standalone market capitalization.
Strengths
- Sits within TIAA’s retirement-services ecosystem and provides brokerage access beyond plan menus
Drawbacks
- At TIAA Brokerage, the feature set that distinguishes TIAA Brokerage can add complexity, service charges or eligibility rules that a buy-and-hold customer may never use
Profile
What you can trade
TIAA Brokerage supports U.S. stocks, ETFs and listed options, with additional instruments limited to the specific disclosures and permissions of this brokerage rather than a universal product catalog.
Account types
The standard TIAA Brokerage relationship is a self-directed taxable account with cash or approved margin. Retirement, joint and entity registrations are offered only where the broker’s current forms permit them. The registration structure reflects the fact that the service sits within TIAA’s retirement-services ecosystem and provides brokerage access beyond plan menus.
Platform
TIAA Brokerage provides web and mobile account access; desktop software, APIs and third-party integrations are available only where specifically supported. The resulting workflow is tailored to a business that sits within TIAA’s retirement-services ecosystem and provides brokerage access beyond plan menus.
Who it suits
Best suited to TIAA Brokerage customers whose principal requirement is the capability described in this profile, rather than investors choosing a broker only because of a zero-commission headline.
Where it is offered
TIAA Brokerage is principally offered to eligible U.S. residents who can supply a Social Security number, domestic address and tax certification. Policies for territories, citizens living abroad and international applicants are specific to this firm.
Regulation and sources
Official website: https://tiaa.org/ Regulatory status should be verified through FINRA BrokerCheck, SEC/IAPD, NFA BASIC, state regulators or applicable alternative-asset disclosures. Last verified: 2026-08-11.