Finding old 401(k)'s

People leave old 401(k) accounts behind for many reasons. Here’s some tips and strategies to find a lost 401(k) account. Call Your Old Employer: If you suspect you have missing 401(k) funds or even if you're not sure, it's still a good idea to contact old employers and ask them to check if they're holding your old account. Use an Old 401(k) Plan Statement: With that document, the plan administrator (the investment/financial company that managed your 401(k) investments) can point you to where your money wound up - and who holds it now. Another option is to leverage a government document called "Form 5500". This form, required by the U.S. government, is used by the Internal Revenue Service to help track plan information and to satisfy annual reporting requirements under ERISA and the IRS code, according to the federal tax agency. Your best bet is to visit FreeERISA.com, which can help you track down your old 401(k). Leverage the National Registry: The National Registry, run by Pen Check, a retirement plan distribution firm, is a nationwide, secure database listing of retirement plan account balances that have been left unclaimed by former participants of retirement plans. The site offers an easy, free-of-charge way to locate lost or forgotten employee retirement accounts.

 If you need help rolling an old 401(k) call 320-679-5183 or go to yoursafemoneyshow.com.