What Should I Do With My Old 401(k)?: It's Not as Simple as You Think | Ep 57

What should you do with an old 401(k) after leaving a job? On Real Money, Real Life®, Linda Grizely explains why the answer is not automatically "roll it over" and what you need to understand before you move the money. You generally have four choices: leave the money in your former employer's plan, move it into a new workplace plan, roll it into an IRA, or cash it out. But the choice itself is not the first question. Your account may include different types of money, plan-specific benefits, employer stock, Roth dollars, loan considerations, age-related rules, creditor protections, or other features that can affect the decision. Linda walks through what to check, what you may gain or give up with each option, why an IRA is not automatically cheaper or better, what to consider before cashing out retirement money, and why the mechanics of a rollover matter too. The goal is not to memorize every retirement-plan rule. It is to understand enough to slow down, ask better questions, and make an intentional decision instead of assuming an old 401(k) should automatically be moved. 💡 Linda talks about: How to decide what to do with an old 401(k) What to check before rolling retirement money into an IRA How the four old 401(k) options differ How to move retirement money without creating an unnecessary tax problem 🕒 Timestamps (00:40) What to know before moving an old 401(k) (01:49) Why rolling over a 401(k) is not an automatic decision (03:41) What is actually inside your retirement account (07:01) Rules and circumstances that can change your decision (09:04) Employer stock and net unrealized appreciation (09:43) The Rule of 55 and early access to retirement money (10:58) Required minimum distributions before a rollover (11:56) Roth 401(k) and Roth IRA five-year rules (12:54) Backdoor Roth planning and IRA balances (13:57) What you may give up when leaving a workplace plan (15:16) How 403(b), 457(b), and other plans can differ (16:14) The four options for an old 401(k) (17:08) Option 1: Leave the 401(k) with your former employer (19:37) Option 2: Move it into your new workplace plan (21:05) Option 3: Roll the money into an IRA (22:58) Option 4: Cash out your old 401(k) (25:57) The future cost of spending retirement money today (27:33) Direct rollover vs. indirect rollover (29:42) What to do after the rollover is completed (31:33) How to make an intentional 401(k) decision (32:44) The closing nugget 🎤 Send Linda Your Money Question https://www.speakpipe.com/rmrl 🔗 Connect with Linda Website: https://www.LindaGriz.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lindagrizely Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thelindagrizely LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/linda-grizely YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LindaGrizely TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lindagrizely Resources: https://www.lindagriz.com/resources ℹ️ Disclosures Real Money, Real Life® is hosted & produced by Linda Grizely Ventures, LLC. Linda Grizely, CFP®, is an Investment Adviser Representative of Nectarine Financial, Inc., an SEC-registered investment adviser. Linda Grizely Ventures, LLC is separate from & unaffiliated w/ Nectarine. The views expressed on this podcast are those of the individuals expressing them & do not necessarily reflect the views of Linda Grizely, Linda Grizely Ventures, LLC, or Nectarine. Guests may express opinions or discuss strategies that are their own & should not be considered recommendations or personalized advice. This podcast is provided for informational, educational, & entertainment purposes only & should not be construed as personalized investment advice or a solicitation to buy or sell any securities or financial products. Listeners should consult their own financial, legal, or tax professionals regarding their specific situation. For additional disclosures, please visit: https://hellonectarine.com & https://www.lindagriz.com/disclaimers