What Happens to 401K When You Leave a Job
Forget about it. I mean genuinely forget. The account sits there for ten years, you lose the login, the company gets bought by another company, and suddenly your money is held hostage by a customer service robot named “Susan.” Track down your old accounts using the National Registry of Unclaimed Retirement Benefits. It’s a real website! You might find $12,000 you forgot about, or a $43 fee from a yogurt shop you used in 2018. Both are thrilling.
Finally, here’s the truth: leaving a job is like breaking up with a bad relationship. Your 401k is your emotional support animal. Don’t abandon it. Roll it over, keep it safe, and let it grow up to become a beautiful, tax-advantaged adult that buys you a beach house in 30 years. Or at least a nice hammock and a beer.
Now go update your LinkedIn profile and stop worrying. You’ve got this. And Susan the robot can’t have your money.