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If you've ever changed jobs, you might still have an old 401(k) tied to your previous employer. Many people wind up leaving their 401(k)s behind as the process of transferring (or “rolling over”) your 401(k) can be time-consuming and confusing.
It's our mission to make 401(k) rollovers easy, and we've built a service to handle the entire process for you online - for free!
Interested in how it works? We’ve broken down the 401(k) rollover process into 3 simple steps:
Track down your old 401(k)
In order to process your rollover, we’ll need to know a couple things:
- Where’s your 401(k)? We’ll need to know the financial institution where your 401(k) account is located. This institution is often referred to as your “401(k) provider”. If you don’t know, no worries! We can look it up for you based on your previous employer.
- Do you have a Traditional or Roth 401(k)? This will determine which type of IRA you’ll need to open (see step 2). The vast majority of people have a traditional 401(k). Only 15% or so of 401(k) plans even offer a Roth choice, but it’s worth checking.
Just the way your contributions were taxed. With a Traditional 401(k), your contributions came out of your paycheck with no taxes paid. With a Roth 401(k), your contributions came out after taxes were withheld.
Open an IRA
Already have an IRA? Great — skip this step
There are a few choices you have with an old 401(k), but most people who move their 401(k) assets transfer their 401(k) funds into an Individual Retirement Account, or IRA.
When choosing an IRA, you’ll want to decide whether you prefer to pick your investments yourself, or have them managed for you. Some IRA providers focus on managing your assets for you, while others let you open an account and pick investments yourself.
Once you’ve decided on a provider, you’ll want to open an IRA that matches the ‘tax-type’ as your 401(k) in order to avoid paying any unnecessary taxes:
- If you have a Traditional 401(k), you’ll need a Traditional or Rollover IRA.
- If you have a Roth 401(k), you’ll need a Roth IRA.
Authorize your rollover
Once you have your IRA open, you’ll need to instruct your 401(k) provider to send your 401(k) money over. This part can be tricky and varies depending on who your 401(k) provider is. Some institutions require you to fill out a form, others require a phone call with you and most will physically mail you a check to forward on to your new IRA provider. If you don’t know your way around these processes, you risk losing a ton of time and possibly failing at getting your money transferred.
The good news is, we’ve got a team of rollover experts ready to assist with your rollover. Our agents will guide you through the entire process and assist along the way if you have any questions or concerns.
It’s 100% free for you, and most of the process can be done online in just a few minutes.
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401(k) Loans: Should you borrow from your retirement?
A 401(k) loan allows you to borrow from your retirement account. Before taking a 401(k) loan, make sure you understand the potential taxes and penalties you’ll owe if you don’t pay the funds back on time, as well as foregone investment gains that could impact your retirement plans.
How to open an IRA
An Individual Retirement Account – or IRA – is a popular retirement savings account that is tied to an individual, not an employer. Opening an IRA is a pretty simple process. It’s important not to worry about how much you have to invest and to simply focus on getting started as soon as possible.
Not sure where your old 401(k) is? We can help with that.
Don’t lose track of your money. We’ll help you choose a new retirement account, and handle the paperwork, for free.