Are You Leaving Money Behind?
Why Your Old 401(k) Might Be the Most Overlooked Risk in Your Retirement Plan
Have you ever left a 401(k) behind at an old job?
If so, you’re not alone. Millions of Americans have “stray” 401(k)s sitting with former employers — unmanaged, forgotten, and underperforming. And while it might not feel urgent, the financial consequences of inaction can be enormous.
In the past two weeks alone, seven people came to our team with this exact issue. After reviewing their accounts — which totaled over $5.5 million combined — we found most of them had dramatically underperformed compared to the market. In fact, on average, they had missed out on over 35% in potential returns in just the last four years.
Let that sink in.
This wasn’t due to market timing or risky bets. It was simply because these accounts were left untouched — poorly allocated, often sitting in high-fee funds or money markets, and no longer aligned with their goals.
The Real Problem: No One’s Paying Attention
What’s even more frustrating is that many of these people already had financial advisors. But when they asked about rolling over their old 401(k)s, they got blank stares, pushback, or silence.
Why? Often, it’s because:
The advisor doesn’t manage held-away assets
It’s too much paperwork
Or they simply didn’t ask the right questions
We see this all the time. The client assumes their advisor is managing everything, but the advisor only focuses on what’s in their firm’s control. That’s how major assets fall through the cracks — and how your future quietly gets shortchanged.
Why Old 401(k)s Underperform
Here are some of the most common issues we see when reviewing old workplace retirement plans:
1. Poor Allocation
Many accounts are still in outdated target-date funds, overly conservative bond funds, or even cash-like positions that were never updated after the employee left the job.
2. Limited Investment Options
Most employer plans only offer a limited menu of mutual funds — often with higher fees and limited flexibility. No ETFs, no custom portfolios, no tax strategies.
3. No Oversight
There’s no active management, no rebalancing, and no one making sure the account fits into your larger retirement plan.
4. High Fees
401(k) fees are often hidden — baked into fund costs, admin expenses, and plan-level charges. Most people have no idea how much they’re paying.
5. Lost Time
Even small delays in fixing these issues compound over time. Waiting even a few years could mean missing out on tens or hundreds of thousands in potential growth.
So What Can You Do?
Rolling over an old 401(k) is easier than most people realize. In many cases, it can be done online or over the phone in less than 20 minutes.
The bigger decision is where to roll it to — and who should help manage it going forward.
That’s where The Right Retirement Plan comes in.
Our Promise: Real Help, No Sales Pitch
If you have an old 401(k) — or think you might — we’ll walk you through a free 15-minute 401(k) Quick Check to help you understand:
What it’s invested in
How it’s performing
What fees you’re paying
Whether it should be moved — and where
You’ll also get free access to our retirement planning software — the same tool we use to help high-net-worth families across the country map out their income, taxes, and investment strategy for decades to come.
Here’s what it includes:
A clear retirement timeline based on your current assets
Market stress-testing to help you plan for volatility
Tax-efficient withdrawal strategies and Roth conversion insights
Visual breakdowns of income, taxes, and long-term growth potential
There’s no cost. No obligation. Just honest guidance.
Don’t Let an Old 401(k) Drag Down a Good Plan
The hardest part of financial planning isn’t getting started — it’s following through.
A forgotten 401(k) may seem harmless, but it can become one of the biggest missed opportunities in your retirement journey. Don’t let yours sit in the dark, working against you.
If you’re ready for clarity, book a call with us today.
