June 11, 2018

Taking on a new position certainly means a big transition in your life, but it’s equally important to think about how this affects your retirement and your estate planning concerns. Financial advisors share that rolling over your existing 401(k) funds into a new employer’s plan is not always the most appropriate fit for all employees. Other options may include taking a lump sum payout, choosing an in-plan Roth conversion or opening a new IRA.

Savers may choose to leave their money where it is, although some plan administrators say that your former position may impose restrictions. You will want talk to your financial adviser as well as your estate planning professional about how this influences your current life and your future. Rolling over into a new IRA preserves the most investing flexibility, according to financial advisors.

You will also need to make sure that all of your estate planning and beneficiary related materials are updated as well. When you move into a new plan, the materials inside your estate planning documents, such as your will, will be superseded by the beneficiary designation forms you have listed on your retirement accounts. This is what makes it so important to verify that these beneficiary designations are updated at least on an annual basis.