The 401(k) Decision Guide™

Clarity for One of the Most Common (And Overlooked) Financial Inflection Points

This guide is for people who:

• Have recently changed jobs (or expect to soon)
• Are unsure what to do with an old 401(k)
• Want to make a thoughtful decision — not a rushed one
• Want their retirement choices to support their life, not just their accounts

Why This Moment Matters

A job change is a life transition, not just a career event.

Yet most people make 401(k) decisions quickly, under pressure, or by default — without pausing to understand the ripple effects.

This guide helps you slow the moment down and see it clearly.

Your Four Primary Options (High-Level, Non-Technical)

1. Leave the 40(k) where it is
   • Simple, but often overlooked, but not always optimal
2. Roll it into your new employer’s plan
   • Can simplify, but may limit flexibility
3. Roll it into an IRA
   • May increase control and alignment
4. Cash it out
   • Rarely ideal, but important to understand the consequences

The “right” choice depends on you, not a rule of thumb.

The Clarity Lens

Most people ask: Which option performs best?

To gain better clarity for your situation, we suggest reframing to these questions:

• Which option preserves flexibility?
• Which supports the next chapter of my life?
• Which simplifies my financial world?
• Which aligns with my long-term priorities?

Reflection Questions

Additional questions to consider and discuss with a financial advisor are:

• What does flexibility mean to me right now?
• How important is simplicity at this stage of my life?
• Am I making this decision thoughtfully — or reactively?

Gentle Next Step

If this job change feels like more than a transaction, you may be standing at a broader inflection point.