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What happens to my 401(k) when I quit or get laid off?
Short answer
It stays yours. You can usually leave it, move it to a new employer plan, roll it into an IRA, or cash it out.
See every step in 1 minuteWhat to do with your 401(k) after leaving a job
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Official sources
- IRS: rollovers of retirement plan distributionsirs.gov
- DOL: Retirement Savings Lost and Foundlostandfound.dol.gov
- SEC Investor.gov: rolloversinvestor.gov