$1.7 Trillion Sits in Lost and Forgotten 40l(k) Accounts – Is One of Them Yours?

Finding a lost 401(k): The low-hanging fruit

First, visit the National Registry of Unclaimed Retirement Benefits. 

Next, proceed to the Retirement Savings Lost and Found Database. This is a new site, launched by the Department of Labor to help workers locate unclaimed benefits. 

Third, visit Missing Money, a clearinghouse of unclaimed property held by the U.S. and Canadian provinces. 

Finding a lost 40l(k): Some effort required 

Search your employment records. Look for old retirement plan statements, in electronic or paper form. Alternately, seek out old pay stubs and W-2 forms, and look for contributions to retirement plans. 

Contact old employers if you can find them. 

If you think you know which plan administrator held your account, contact that company directly. 

"There are not many 401(k) plan administrators out there." 

Finding a lost 401(k): Other resources 

The Department of Labor's abandoned plan database can help an ex-worker locate a terminated plan. 


This document is designed for general information only. The information presented in this document should not be construed to be formal legal or tax advice nor the formation of a lawyer/client relationship. 

For more information on this and other topics, please contact Kevin via any of the channels listed below:

📧 kevin@kmckernan.com  | 📞 718-317-5007

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