Check out some similar questions!

acrp · Aug 11, 2006, 08:31 AM

I have an account with Valic about 100K in it, it is in a retirement 401 started with my old co. I have moved to a new job, they have a 401 k with BBand T.
Should I transfer the original 401 or just start a new one. If I leave the original I can not add to it right? What's the best way to have my retirement grow?
Im scared I will loose it all any way if there is another crash. Is there any way to protect it at all. I am 49 still plenty of work years left. Basically I need to know what is the best way to deal with my finances.:confused:

Dr D · Aug 11, 2006, 09:30 AM

Your best bet would be to transfer the funds to a Self-Directed IRA. If Valic is a financial management company like Fidelity, Putnam etc. you can leave it with them or put it with another company. Seek the council of the financial institute and that of trusted and financially savy friends to achieve the proper diversification and get an overall mix of return/security that fits your comfort zone.

ScottGem · Aug 11, 2006, 10:39 AM

First you need to check with the administrator of the old company. Some companes require that you close your 401K when you leave. Other companies will let you let it stay. You are correct that you will not be able to add anything to it.

If your old company does not require that you close it, then you need to decide what you want to do. Look at the investments your account is currently in. How have they performed? If they have performed well, then you might want to just leave it alone. Or you might want to change the investments into better performing options.

Or you can decide to do a rollover into the new companies plan. Here again, you need to look at the investment options offered and determine whether they meet your needs. One advantage of a rollover into the new plan, is that you may be able to take loans against that money. 401K loans are a great deal, any interest charged is just added back to your account, so you are essentially borrowing from yourself and paying yourself interest.

You also have the option, as Dr D suggested, of a rollover into an IRA. You can then decide where the IRA will be and what investments will be in it.

Your fear of a crash would suggest that your risk tolerance is pretty low. So you want to look for safe investment vehicles. These will not have high returns, but stable ones.