5 Frequently Asked Questions About 401(K) Plan Rollovers

Provided by

What is a rollover and why should I consider it?

A rollover is a transfer of your money from one retirement account to another, preserving your retirement savings’ tax-deferred status. This allows your savings to keep growing and avoids paying taxes on the money until you retire.

What are my options for a rollover?

Rolling over to an IRA offers several benefits. This option is available no matter what your employment status; you can choose a provider that has the investment options you want; and you have more withdrawal flexibility than most 401(k)s.Your new employer’s 401(k) plan will usually accept rollover contributions as well. Choosing this option offers simplicity, as all of your retirement savings may be in one account. In addition, 401(k)s offer higher annual contribution limits than an IRA, and many allow you to borrow from your account – a feature not offered by IRAs.

Will I need to pay taxes on a rollover?

No – if your rollover goes directly to an IRA or another 401(k). Before you initiate a transfer, talk with your financial professional located at your credit union to ensure your rollover preserves the tax-deferred status of your account.

Are there other factors I should consider when pursuing a 401(K) Rollover?

Please be sure to consider the following:
  • If you don’t take action by a specified deadline and your account balance is between $1,000 and $5,000, your former employer may automatically rollover your money into an IRA.
  • If your account holds less than $1,000 and you don’t make a distribution choice, you could receive a check for the balance, with 20% withheld for taxes. Once you receive your money, however, you usually have 60 days to perform a rollover and avoid taxes and penalties.
  • Nearly one-third of employers have a 6-12 month waiting period before you can start making contributions to your new 401(k). Your financial professional located at your credit union can help you explore alternatives that will keep your retirement savings growing during that waiting period.

So, you're leaving a job. What can you do with the money in your 401(K)?

Take the money now

While you might put this windfall to good use, bear in mind that you’ll pay taxes on the proceeds in addition to a 10% early distribution penalty if you are under the age of 59 1/2.

Keep the money in your current plan if your employer allows it

This preserves your money’s tax-deferred status but spreads your retirement savings across multiple accounts and limits you to the investment options and withdrawal rules set by the plan – which means you may not have immediate access to your funds.

Rollover your account to an IRA (Individual Retirement Account) or your new employer’s 401(k)

This option avoids an early distribution penalty and keeps all your 401(k) retirement savings in one account.If you’d like to learn more about how planning ahead today can pay off in your future, contact a financial professional at Summit Financial Advisors at 800-236-5560, Ext. 4012 or .
You might also be interested in Have you considered investing? If you're already really good at saving, the next smart step is to put your money somewhere it can really grow. Yep, that... Provided by What is a rollover and why should I consider it? A rollover is a transfer of your money from one retirement account to another, preserving... Provided by Summit Financial Advisors Some specifics about the “second act.” Does your vision of retirement align with the facts? Here are some noteworthy... Whether you’re looking to save, spend or invest, Summit financial coaches are here to help. See what you could accomplish with a little extra support from... There’s no time like the present to start financial planning for your future. Give yourself peace of mind with these financing tips for saving and investing... September is National Life Insurance Awareness Month – a good time to think about the value and importance of insuring yourself... Please read the following before proceeding to: The website you are about to visit is solely the responsibility of the merchant or other party providing the site. The content of this third-party site, including materials and information, is solely the responsibility of the provider of the site. The Credit Union is not responsible for any such third-party content. Any transactions that you enter into with a vendor, merchant or other party that you access through this third-party site are solely between you and that vendor, merchant or other party. The Credit Union does not endorse the content contained in this third-party site, nor the organization publishing the site, and hereby disclaims any responsibility for such content. The Credit Union Privacy Policy does not apply to this third-party site, and for further information you should consult the privacy disclosures of the third-party site.
NCUA Insurance Estimator Privacy, Security & Accessibility Rates Terms and Fees Routing Number
The Wisconsin's #1 Mortgage Lender designation is based on the number of loans in 2023, gathered from the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act data compiled annually by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The results of the data were obtained through the LEI: 254900NTAC4H10MGSU23 ** SBA Lender of the Year Award for Credit Unions as awarded by the Small Business Administration of Wisconsin in 2024. Copyright 2025 © Summit Credit Union. All rights reserved. If you are using a screen reader and are having problems using this website, please call 608-243-5000 for assistance. Insured by NCUA