Required Minimum Distributions: Avoid These 4 Mistakes. Employees may look for forgotten retirement accounts online by typing their Social Security number in the appropriate box. The content created by our editorial staff is objective, factual, and not influenced by our advertisers. These returns cover a period from 1986-2011 and were examined and attested by Baker Tilly, an independent accounting firm. Another option is to search the National Registry of Unclaimed Retirement Benefits. div#block-eoguidanceviewheader .dol-alerts p {padding: 0;margin: 0;} Looked For Unclaimed Money If you prefer to keep all your investments in one place and your current employer offers a decent 401, then you may want to consider rolling over the funds into that account . The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation is a U.S. government agency. Sometimes it makes more sense for one member of a married couple to keep working. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. & Employment, Veterans Benefits Here's how they work. Communicating information about how the plan can help eligible employees consolidate accounts from prior employer plans or rollover IRAs. Its also possible that your employer turned over your 401 balance to your states unclaimed property fund. Dont Miss: How To Claim Retirement Benefits. By rolling the old account into your current employers plan, youll be able to keep all your 401 accounts in one place, making it easier to keep track of them. Veterans Crisis Line: So whats a worker to do? Baby boomers have worked an average of 12 jobs, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. If youre interested in earning more in your line of work, changing jobs may be your best tactic. Once you find forgotten retirement funds, you can make it easier to keep track of your money by simply rolling over your old 401 accounts into an IRA at a brokerage you already have an account with. & Protections, Life Insurance Online Working While Collecting Social Security Retirement How to Apply for Social Security Benefits Many people choose or need, to keep working after claiming Social Security retirement benefits. Disclaimer: The content, calculators, and tools on NewRetirement.com are for informational and educational purposes Have a question? You May Like: Go Medicare Benefits Help Center Reviews, 2022 BenefitsTalk.net Five $100 bills are on a table beside a broken piggy bank. Although there is no certifiable number of accounts forgotten, the problem has spawned a slew of companies willing to track down your lost retirement dollars and help you roll them over into an individual retirement account (IRA). Retirement TopicsTermination of Employment.. Absence of sound policies and procedures for handling mail returned marked return to sender, wrong address, addressee unknown, or otherwise, and undeliverable email. The National Registry of Unclaimed Retirement Benefits: This website can help former government and non-government employees find their retirement plan account balances that are left unclaimed. If she advises you to transfer the cash, consider the options. We are compensated in exchange for placement of sponsored products and, services, or by you clicking on certain links posted on our site. However, tracking down your funds can be a headache. Some people lose track of a retirement plan and need to find a lost 401(k) later. People sometimes get a text with links or a postcard claiming to have unclaimed property, but it's just scammers trying to get your personal information. If you dont remember the name of your plan administrator, you can find the information on the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) website. The offers that appear in this table are from partnerships from which Investopedia receives compensation. Regularly auditing census information and correcting data errors. You just need to know where to look. Our experts have been helping you master your money for over four decades.