Should you keep an old 401(k) or roll it into an IRA?
An IRA can offer greater investment flexibility and more control over portfolio construction. An employer 401(k), however, may provide institutional pricing, plan-specific investments, federal protections, or withdrawal features that can be valuable.
Neither account is automatically better. The right comparison is between the 401(k) you actually have and the IRA you would actually receive.
A rollover should improve your situation—not simply move the account.
Investors often focus on one issue, such as investment choice or fees. A proper comparison is broader.
401(k) vs. IRA
The exact features of an employer plan and an IRA vary, but these are some of the major differences to investigate before making a rollover.
| Feature | Former Employer 401(k) | IRA |
|---|---|---|
| Investment choices | Limited to investments selected by the plan | Generally a broader investment universe, subject to custodian and account restrictions |
| Investment pricing | May include low-cost institutional investments or plan-specific vehicles | Depends on the investments and provider selected |
| Administrative costs | May include recordkeeping and plan expenses; employer may pay some costs | May include custodial, advisory, fund and transaction expenses |
| Portfolio customization | Generally limited by the plan menu | Often substantially greater |
| Age-55 exception | May apply after qualifying separation from service | That specific exception does not apply |
| Loans | Some employer plans permit loans; plan and employment rules apply | IRA loans are not permitted |
| Legal protections | Employer plans can have protections under federal law | Protection can differ depending on federal bankruptcy rules, state law and the circumstances |
| Employer stock | Special tax rules may be available in certain circumstances | Rolling employer securities into an IRA can change the tax analysis |
| Account consolidation | Remains a separate former-employer account unless moved | Can potentially consolidate multiple eligible retirement accounts |
General comparison only. Individual plans, IRA providers and investor circumstances can differ materially.
Why might an IRA be attractive?
More investment choice
Employer plans typically offer a selected menu of investments. An IRA can generally provide access to a much broader universe of stocks, bonds, ETFs, mutual funds and other investments offered by the custodian.
Greater portfolio customization
An IRA can make it easier to build a retirement portfolio around an investor's broader financial situation rather than selecting only from a predetermined plan lineup.
Account consolidation
Investors who have accumulated retirement accounts from several employers may be able to consolidate eligible assets into one IRA, simplifying monitoring, allocation and administration.
Professional management
An IRA can be managed directly by the investor or through an investment adviser. That can provide additional flexibility in security selection, risk management and portfolio construction.
What might you give up by rolling over?
A broader investment menu does not automatically make an IRA superior. Some employer plans offer features worth preserving.
Large plans can sometimes provide access to institutional funds or other investment structures with very low expenses.
Stable-value funds, collective investment trusts and other institutional offerings may not be available in the same form through a retail IRA.
Employer-sponsored retirement plans may receive protections under federal retirement-plan law that differ from the legal protections applicable to IRAs.
Certain former employees can qualify for an early-distribution exception that applies to qualified employer plans but not IRAs.
Which one costs less?
There is no universal answer.
Some employers subsidize plan administration, and some large plans provide very low-cost institutional investments. Conversely, other plans may have higher administrative or investment costs.
See our research on 401(k) fees →More choices can be valuable—but only if you use them well.
Curated investment menu
Broader investment universe
The age-55 rule can make keeping a former employer plan especially important.
The 10% additional tax on early distributions generally has an exception for certain qualified-plan distributions when an employee separates from service during or after the calendar year in which the employee reaches age 55.
The IRS specifically shows that this separation-from-service exception applies to qualified employer plans but not IRAs.
401(k)s may permit loans. IRAs do not.
A qualified retirement plan may offer participant loans if the plan permits them. An IRA cannot provide a participant loan.
Employer stock can make a rollover much more complicated.
Certain distributions of employer securities from a qualified retirement plan may be eligible for special tax treatment involving net unrealized appreciation, or NUA.
Under qualifying circumstances, taxation of the appreciation in employer securities may be deferred until the securities are sold, and that NUA may receive long-term capital-gain treatment.
Rolling employer securities can affect the availability of NUA treatment. Investors holding significant employer stock should consider obtaining tax advice before completing a rollover.
How the rollover is completed matters.
401(k) → IRA
The plan sends the eligible rollover distribution directly to the receiving IRA.
Generally no federal tax withholding401(k) → You → IRA
When an eligible retirement-plan distribution is paid directly to you, 20% federal withholding generally applies.
Generally 60 days to complete rolloverTraditional 401(k) → Roth IRA is different.
A direct rollover from a pre-tax 401(k) into a traditional IRA generally preserves tax deferral. Moving pre-tax retirement assets into a Roth IRA generally causes the taxable amount converted to be included in gross income for the year.
When might each option deserve a closer look?
- Your plan has very competitive investments and expenses
- You value plan-specific or institutional investment options
- The age-55 exception may be important
- Employer-stock tax considerations may apply
- You value features or protections of the existing plan
- You want substantially greater investment flexibility
- You want a customized portfolio
- You want to consolidate retirement accounts
- You want an adviser to manage the retirement portfolio
- The IRA's total costs and services compare favorably
Ten questions worth answering first.
Don't start with the rollover. Start with the comparison.
A rollover recommendation should follow an evaluation of the existing plan, the proposed IRA and the investor's circumstances. The fact that an IRA provides more choices does not by itself make it the better account.
Compare your existing 401(k) before making the move.
PortfolioLab can help review the investments, fees, risk and structure of your old employer plan and evaluate how those characteristics compare with an IRA.
Request a 401(k) ReviewSources used for this guide
- Internal Revenue Service — Rollovers of Retirement Plan and IRA Distributions
- Internal Revenue Service — Exceptions to Tax on Early Distributions
- Internal Revenue Service — Retirement Plan Loan FAQs
- Internal Revenue Service — Publication 575, Pension and Annuity Income
- U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission — Staff Bulletin on Account and Rollover Recommendations
- U.S. Department of Labor — What You Should Know About Your Retirement Plan
PortfolioLab LLC is a Florida-registered investment adviser. Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training. This material is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and is not individualized investment, tax or legal advice. A rollover may not be appropriate for every investor. Before moving retirement assets, consider the investment options, services, fees and expenses, withdrawal provisions, legal protections, tax consequences, employer securities and other characteristics of the existing plan and proposed alternative. PortfolioLab does not represent that an IRA will necessarily be less expensive, provide better investment results, or be more appropriate than an employer-sponsored retirement plan. Investing involves risk, including possible loss of principal.