Leaving a job? Don't rush the 401(k).

When you leave an employer, you generally have four choices for your 401(k): leave it, roll it to your new plan, roll it to an IRA, or cash out. Each has tax consequences and tradeoffs. We help you compare them honestly before you sign any paperwork.

Schedule a Personal Consultation Call (281) 786-5159

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At a glance

Best for: Recently retired, changing jobs, or holding old 401(k) accounts
Format: Virtual anywhere in the US. In-person in the Houston area upon request.
First step: Complimentary intro call · 5–45 min
Coordinates with: Your CPA, Attorney, and Plan Administrator

01 · Who this is for

Situations I see most often.

You've retired or changed employers and want to know what to do with your 401(k).
You hold employer stock inside the 401(k) and want to evaluate NUA.
You have multiple old 401(k)s scattered across former employers.
You're considering a rollover but not sure if the new option is actually better.
Your old plan has institutional share classes and you want a fair comparison.

02 · What's included

What the engagement covers.

Side-by-side comparison: leave / roll-to-new-plan / roll-to-IRA / cash out.
Net Unrealized Appreciation (NUA) analysis on employer stock.
Cost comparison: expense ratios, fees, share classes.
Beneficiary review on both old and new account.
Roth and pre-tax tracking across rollovers.
Tax-withholding coordination on the rollover transaction.

03 · How the process works

A measured approach, in clear steps.

Plan document review

We pull your Summary Plan Description and current statement and identify any features (NUA-eligible stock, after-tax contributions, special early-retirement provisions) that might be lost in a rollover.

Side-by-side comparison

I produce a written comparison of all four options, including realistic costs, investment access, and creditor protection differences.

Decision conversation

We talk through the tradeoffs together. You decide. I document the rationale.

Paperwork

If you decide to roll, I handle the request and coordinate the trustee-to-trustee transfer to avoid withholding mistakes.

Position the receiving account

Allocations are set, beneficiaries confirmed, automatic contributions or distributions scheduled if needed.

04 · Common questions

Plain-English answers.

Is rolling to an IRA always the right move?

No. Rollovers can make sense (wider investment choice, consolidation, sometimes lower cost) but staying in a 401(k) can also make sense (institutional share classes, stronger creditor protection). The right answer depends on your specific situation.

What is NUA and why does it matter?

Net Unrealized Appreciation is a tax provision that lets you move highly-appreciated employer stock out of a 401(k) and pay long-term capital-gains rates on the appreciation rather than ordinary income. It only works if executed correctly — and once you roll the stock to an IRA, the option is gone.

How long does a rollover take?

Most direct rollovers settle in 2–4 weeks. Some legacy plans take longer, particularly if they require paper forms or wet signatures.

Do I pay taxes on a rollover?

A direct trustee-to-trustee rollover is not a taxable event. An indirect rollover (check made directly out to you) triggers mandatory 20% withholding and a 60-day deadline — which is why we almost always recommend direct rollovers.

Can I roll a 401(k) to a Roth IRA?

Yes — that's a Roth conversion, and it is a taxable event. We'd model the tax cost in the year of conversion and decide whether it makes sense given your bracket and time horizon.

05 · Related services