Find an Old 401(k)free
Money in a former employer's plan is not lost, it is unclaimed. Here is how to get it back, free.
Americans have left tens of millions of accounts behind at old jobs. The money is still yours; the trail starts with the employer. Look yours up: their filing shows the plan and, on its page, the recordkeeper who actually holds the accounts.
Covers employers filing full Form 5500s (generally plans with 100+ participants). Not listed? Smaller plans file a short form; go straight to step 3.
The plan page lists the recordkeeper (Fidelity, Empower, Principal, and so on). Call them or the company's HR, say you are a former employee looking for your account, and have your Social Security number and approximate employment dates ready. They are required to help you locate your balance.
If your balance was under $1,000, the plan may have cashed it out and mailed a check to your old address; that money eventually lands in state unclaimed property (step 3). Between $1,000 and $7,000, plans commonly roll you into a "safe harbor" IRA at a custodian chosen by the employer, so also search your name at the state sites and watch for statements from unfamiliar IRA custodians.
Free concierge services exist that locate the account and handle the transfer into an IRA you choose; they are paid by IRA providers rather than by you. Everything they do, this page's steps do too, just with your time instead. Whatever you choose, do not pay anyone a fee to "find" a 401(k): the databases above are public.
How do I find an old 401(k) from a previous job?
Start with the employer: look up their plan (above) to see who administers it, then contact that administrator with your name, Social Security number, and rough dates of employment. If the employer no longer exists or the plan was terminated, use the Department of Labor's abandoned plan database and the federal Retirement Savings Lost and Found.
Can my old 401(k) money just disappear?
No, but it can move without you. Balances under $1,000 are often cashed out and mailed to your last known address; balances between $1,000 and $7,000 are commonly rolled into a 'safe harbor' IRA in your name at a custodian you have never heard of. Larger balances usually stay in the plan. In every case the money remains yours.
Do I have to pay someone to recover an old 401(k)?
No. Every step is free to do yourself: the plan administrator must help you, and the government databases are public. Free concierge services also exist that handle the paperwork and transfer for you; they are paid by IRA providers, not by you.
What if my old employer went out of business?
The plan's assets are held in trust, separate from company money, so a bankruptcy does not take your 401(k). Check the DOL abandoned plan database for the plan's termination administrator, and the PBGC if it was a traditional pension rather than a 401(k).