CREF set to rename three investment accounts as ESG policy gains prominence

The College Retirement Equities Fund is preparing for structural changes that will update how three of its investment accounts are presented to the public. These changes were authorized by the Board of Trustees and will be reflected in both new and previously distributed investor materials.

Once active, the CREF Equity Index Account will take on the name CREF S&P 500 Index Account to indicate a clearer connection to that widely followed market benchmark. The CREF Stock Account will be relabeled as the CREF Total Global Stock Account, a shift that suggests a broader geographic investment scope. Meanwhile, the CREF Social Choice Account will become the CREF Responsible Balanced Account, a change that positions the product more distinctly within a sustainability-minded investment category.

The rebranding is scheduled to take effect at the end of November, and future references in program documentation will use these updated designations.

Along with its new title, the Responsible Balanced Account will also adopt a formal investment guideline that strengthens its connection to environmental, social and governance considerations. Under this mandate, at least 80 percent of the portfolio’s assets must align with criteria defined for responsible and sustainable investing. This policy, adopted under federal naming standards for funds, is intended to guide long-term asset allocation and provide clearer expectations for investors evaluating the account’s purpose.

The policy will be incorporated into the primary investment strategy section of the fund’s prospectus and becomes active on the same date as the renaming. The fund intends for investors to recognize both the modified label and the new ESG requirement as core to the account’s identity moving forward.

By combining revised account names with a strengthened sustainability framework, the organization highlights evolving priorities in retirement investing. The updates reflect increased investor interest in clearly defined equity strategies and the growing prominence of responsible investment approaches across financial products.