Wisconsin Deferred Compensation 457(b)
The Wisconsin Deferred Compensation (WDC) 457(b) program is a supplemental retirement savings plan that allows you to invest a portion of your income for retirement either on a pre-tax or post-tax (Roth) basis or a combination of both. Participation in the WDC program is voluntary with employees making the entire contribution; there is no employer match.
The WDC program is administered by the Department of Employee Trust Funds (ETF) through a third-party administrator, Empower (Empower Retirement).
Contact the WDC office directly at WDC_Office@empower.com or 877-457-9327.
Learn more about the WDC Program at www.wdc457.org.
Eligibility
Eligible Employees
- Employees covered by the WRS
- LTE and Project employees
- Rehired annuitants
- Student hourly employees
- Graduate Assistants
- Short-Term Academic Staff employees
Ineligible Employees
- Employees-in-Training
- Fellows
- Interns
Contribution Limits
2026
- Age 49 and under: $24,500
- Age 50 or older at any time during the year to age 59: $32,500 ($24,500 + $8,000 catch-up provision)
- Age 60 to 63 at any time during the year: $35,750 ($24,500 + $8,000 + $3,250 super catch-up provision)
- Age 64 and over: $32,500 ($24,500 + $8,000 catch-up provision)
Your contribution will be truncated when the limit is reached and will remain inactive for the remainder of the calendar year. Your contributions will begin again automatically in the new calendar year.
Mandatory Roth Catch-up Contributions
Beginning January 1, 2026, for employees who earned more than $150,000 from the Universities of Wisconsin in 2025, all age-based catch-up contributions must be made on and Roth (after-tax) basis. Once your pre-tax contributions reach the 2026 basic limit ($24,500) your contributions will automatically be changed to Roth. You can change or stop your contribution amount at any time. Aged-based catch-ups include the age 50 and older catch-up ($8,000) and the age 60-63 catch-up ($3,250).
Special Catch-Up
Employees within three years of the normal retirement age (typically age 65) may be eligible to use the Special Catch-Up Contribution provision, which could be as much as twice the basic amount. Employees may not contribute to both the Special Catch-Up and the Age 50+ Catch-Up options in the same calendar year, even if eligible for both. Catch-up contribution limits are calculated based on how much was under-contributed in prior years. Contact WDC at WDC_Office@empower.com or 877-457-9327 to determine if you are eligible.
Employees are responsible for monitoring contributions to ensure that they stay within the annual limits.
Employees can make the maximum contributions under both the WDC Program and the UW 403(b) Supplemental Retirement Program (SRP).
Fees
The monthly fee to participate in WDC is based on your account balance as follows:
| Account Balance | Monthly Fee | Annual Fee |
|---|---|---|
| $0–$5,000 | $0 | $0 |
| $5,001 – $250,000 | $3.90 | $46.80 |
Distributions, Rollovers and Transfers
Contact 877-457-9327 or log into your Wisconsin Deferred Compensation Plan online at wdc457.org. Additional details are available in the WDC Program Highlights and WDC Distribution Options Guide.
Beneficiary Designation
You are encouraged to designate a beneficiary(ies) to ensure benefits are paid according to your wishes. Whenever you have a life event, review and update your Beneficiary Designation(s) . Beneficiary designations can be changed at any time.
Learn More about the WDC Program
Individual Appointments
Schedule an appointment online or call the local WDC office at 877-457-9327.
Group Sessions
Register for a WDC group session. Registration is required for group sessions.
Enroll
Enroll directly with WDC online or over the phone, using the Plan Enrollment Code shown on page 2 of the WDC Enrollment Flyer. You may also call WDC for physical paper forms.
Changes To Your Enrollment
Once enrolled, you may change your contribution level, beneficiary designation, and/or investment choices by phone at 877-457-9327 or log into your Wisconsin Deferred Compensation Plan online at wdc457.org.