Your account does not disappear when you leave. Your available options generally include leaving an eligible balance in the former employer’s plan, rolling it to a new employer’s plan if that plan accepts rollovers, rolling it to an IRA, or taking a distribution. Plan rules and account size can affect which options are available. [1]

Your own contributions are always yours. Employer contributions may be subject to a vesting schedule, which determines how much you keep if you leave before becoming fully vested. Check your plan documents or ask the plan administrator for your vested balance. [2]

Not necessarily. Some former employees can leave their savings in the existing plan, but plans may handle smaller balances differently. Review notices from your former employer so you understand any deadlines or automatic distribution rules that apply to your account. [1]

That may be worth considering if the plan’s investments, fees, and services meet your needs and the plan permits you to stay. You would also want a way to keep track of the account and understand the plan’s rules for former employees. [1][3]

Possibly. First confirm that the new plan accepts incoming rollovers and what types of balances it will accept. Then compare its investment choices, costs, and features with your other options. Consolidating accounts can simplify tracking, but the destination plan should still fit your needs. [1][4]

An IRA may provide different investment choices and services than an employer plan. Compare the costs, investment options, withdrawal rules, and account features of each destination before deciding. A rollover is a choice to evaluate, not an automatic requirement when you change jobs. [1][3]

In a direct rollover, the retirement plan sends an eligible distribution to the receiving retirement account rather than paying it to you. This approach generally avoids the mandatory federal income-tax withholding that applies to certain eligible rollover distributions paid directly to the participant. Confirm the receiving account’s instructions before requesting the transfer. [5]

An eligible rollover distribution paid to you generally must be rolled over within 60 days to avoid being treated as a distribution. For taxable amounts paid from an employer plan, mandatory 20% federal withholding generally applies. If you want to roll over the full amount, you may need to replace the withheld amount with other funds by the deadline. [5]

They need separate attention. An eligible distribution from a designated Roth account can generally be rolled to a Roth IRA or another plan’s designated Roth account that accepts it. Pre-tax money can generally be rolled to an eligible pre-tax account; moving it to a Roth account may create taxable income. Ask the plan to identify each type of balance before giving rollover instructions. [5][6]

Review the loan terms before you leave. A plan may require repayment when employment ends. If an unpaid loan results in a plan loan offset, the amount may be treated as a distribution, with potential tax consequences. Special rollover timing rules can apply to certain offsets following a job change, so address the loan before initiating a rollover. [7]

The taxable portion of a distribution you do not roll over generally becomes part of your income for the year. An additional early-distribution tax may also apply unless you qualify for an exception. Taking the money out also reduces the amount that remains invested for retirement. [5][8]

Look at when you can join the new retirement plan, how its employer contributions work, and whether it accepts rollovers. At the same time, update your savings contribution decision and keep the old plan’s records until any transfer is complete. Plan documents and administrators can confirm the rules that apply to you. [3][4]