Expert: Ed McFarland - 11/14/2006

Question
I left my last employer May of 2005.  I have a 401K plan with them, with about 13,000.00 in it.  I am having problems getting the distribution paperwork from them so that I can roll it into an IRA (my current employer offers AZ State Retirement plan vs. a 401K)  Is there anything I can do to get them on this?  I feel like I may be losing money while the accounts just sits there.

Answer
Instead of trying to get the paperwork from your former employer, go to the plan custodian instead. You should be able to get it that way.

There is no incentive for the prior plan to hold on to your assets. In many cases the old HR department just is busy with other things and your rollover is a low priority.

The other way would be to go where you plan on moving the account, many will help you through the process.