· Listen
When you leave a job, your old 401(k) doesn't automatically come with you. You have four choices. The default, leaving it behind, is rarely the best option, but most people choose it because they don't know what else to do.
Option 1: Leave it in the old 401(k)
Possible if your balance is over $5,000-$7,000 (varies by plan). You keep the same investments and fees. The downside: you lose visibility, you can't make new contributions, and you may forget about it entirely.
Option 2: Roll it into your new 401(k)
Consolidates your retirement savings in one place. Easier to manage. Some 401(k)s have great low-cost institutional funds you can't access elsewhere. Some have high fees and limited choices. Compare before rolling.
Option 3: Roll it to an IRA
The flexibility champion. Hundreds of investment options, your own account, full control. Open a Rollover IRA at Fidelity, Schwab, or Vanguard and request a direct rollover from your old 401(k). The transfer is tax-free if done correctly.
Option 4: Cash it out (almost always wrong)
You pay full income tax plus a 10% penalty if you're under 59½. A $50,000 401(k) cashed out can leave you with $30,000-$35,000. Worse, you lose decades of compounding. Almost no situation justifies this.
What this lesson is NOT
This is not advice on which option to pick. The right move depends on your old and new plans' fees and fund choices, your tax situation, and whether you want creditor protection, which a general lesson cannot judge for you. Rollover rules and deadlines are strict, so confirm the mechanics before you move any money.
Quick check on this lesson
Answer each question and we’ll show you why the right answer is right, and why the others aren’t.
- 1.
Per the lesson, what happens to your old 401(k) when you leave a job, and how many options do you have?
- 2.
Per the lesson, what's the main advantage of rolling an old 401(k) into an IRA?
- 3.
Per the lesson, why is cashing out your 401(k) almost always wrong?
- 4.
Per the lesson's example, if you cash out a $50,000 401(k) before age 59½, roughly what do you walk away with?
- 5.
Per the warning callout, what's a 'direct rollover' and why does it matter?
0 of 5 answered