Taking Your Retirement Plan with You

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Taking Your Retirement Plan with You

You've found a new job and are leaving your old company. However, you face the question of what to do you with the funds in your old company's 401(k), 403(b) or 457 plans?

You have several options. Many workers choose to cash out the money in their retirement plans and spend the funds, maybe to pay down credit card debt or take a vacation. Doing this might seem like fun, however, cashing out your retirement savings plan comes with significant penalties. First, your former employer will withhold 20 percent of the money you've saved to pay federal taxes. Secondly, if you are under 59-and-a-half when you cash out your retirement savings plan you'll have to pay a 10 percent penalty on the money you withdraw. Finally, when you start working your new job, you'll have to rebuild your retirement savings from scratch. Depending on your age, this can put a serious crimp in your retirement plans.

Fortunately, there are better options available.

Better choices

When moving from one company to the next, you have the choice of transferring the funds in your previous employer's retirement savings plan directly into a traditional IRA. This is a direct rollover, and there are several reasons why this is a good financial choice.

First, there is no 10 percent penalty for doing this no matter your age. That is because you are not taking out the funds in the plan. They are just moving to a new retirement savings vehicle. Secondly, you will not lose 20 percent of your retirement savings to federal tax withholding. This means that 100 percent of the funds that you saved while working for your previous employer remain yours; a definite bonus come retirement time.

You might also find that your traditional IRA brings with it several new investment options. You can invest the funds in your IRA in stocks, bonds and several other investment types.

Bringing Your Money With You

You might also be able to bring the dollars from your former employer's retirement savings plan to your new company's retirement plan. You can then invest those dollars in your new employer's retirement savings plan and continue growing your retirement nest egg in a single place.

Not all employers allow you to transfer funds from a former retirement savings plan into theirs. Be sure to speak to your new employer's human resources department to find out if this option exists. If it does, it is a good one. Again, you will not pay any penalties, and you will not have to worry about federal tax withholding.

Leaving it Alone

There's a final option available to employees as they move to a new company: They can leave the money they've built at their past company in that company's retirement savings plan. Most companies will let you do this as long as you have at least $5,000 in their retirement savings plan.

This option comes with one big benefit: It is easy. You will not have to make any plans for the money you've built up. You can let it sit where it is. This might be a good choice if you are happy with your previous employer's plan. You will still need to establish a new retirement savings plan with your new employer.

Bottom line is, if you are starting on a new career with a new employer, be sure to research the options for your retirement savings plan to make the choice that is best for you.

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