When you change jobs or retire, there are four things you can generally do with the assets in any employer-sponsored retirement plan:

1. Leave the money where it is
2. Take the cash (and pay income taxes and perhaps a 10 percent additional federal tax if you are younger than age 59 ½)
3. Transfer the money to another employer plan (if the new plan allows)
4. Roll the money over into an IRA

Rolling over from one qualified plan to another qualified plan allows your money to continue growing tax-deferred until you receive distributions in retirement. We can help you determine if a rollover is the right move for you.

Please remember that converting an employer plan account to a Roth IRA is a taxable event. Increased taxable income from the Roth IRA conversion may have several consequences including (but not limited to) a need for additional tax withholding or estimated tax payments, the loss of certain tax deductions and credits, and higher taxes on Social Security benefits and higher Medicare premiums. Be sure to consult with a qualified tax advisor before making any decisions regarding your IRA.