Should I consolidate old retirement plans?

1039. Laura answers a listener’s question about managing multiple 401(k)s with her current and previous employers. Find out the pros and cons of holding old retirement plans, how to streamline your strategy, and simultaneously reach other financial goals, like homeownership.

Key takeaways

• Consolidating old retirement plans into one low-cost IRA or your current employer’s plan simplifies your asset allocation and protects your retirement growth from redundant account fees.
• Always request a direct trustee-to-trustee rollover when moving funds between retirement accounts to eliminate the risk of missing the strict 60-day deadline.
• Workplace retirement plans offer federal protection against creditors with no dollar limit. 
• IRAs are protected by state-specific laws, making plan-to-plan rollovers an attractive choice for those prioritizing maximum creditor protection. 
• First-time homebuyers can withdraw up to $10,000 penalty-free (but not tax-free) from an IRA ($20,000 for qualifying married couples) for a primary residence.
• Early retirement withdrawals for a home down payment should generally be secondary to building a dedicated home down payment savings fund.

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