Did You Leave a Job? Your Old 401(k) Might Be Worth More Than You Think

If you have changed jobs in the past, and like most Americans, you probably have, you might have left more behind than just your desk and company email.

Many workers leave money sitting in old 401(k) accounts without realizing it.

These forgotten funds can grow into significant savings, but only if you know how to find them.

Recent estimates from the financial services firm Capitalize suggest that more than $1.7 trillion is currently sitting in unclaimed or abandoned 401(k) plans.

That represents about one in four dollars held in all 401(k) accounts.

With more than 29 million accounts potentially left behind, the average forgotten balance is $56,616.
 

Why So Many 401(k) Accounts Are Forgotten

When people leave a job, their 401(k) does not automatically follow them to their next employer.

Transitions can be stressful, and retirement savings often take a back seat.

Between settling into a new workplace, changing addresses, and updating financial records, it is easy to forget about a retirement account, especially if it held a smaller amount at the time.

Some workers also believe they lost access to the money when they left, or they simply never learned how to transfer or claim it.

Over time, this leads to retirement accounts that remain unclaimed for years.
 

How Small Balances Can Grow into Large Sums

Many of these lost accounts started with just a few thousand dollars.

But if that money stayed invested, it likely grew.

For example, a $9,000 401(k) left untouched in the S&P 500 from 2010 to 2025 could have grown to more than $70,000, assuming an average annual return of 13.8 percent.

That forgotten money might now be a meaningful addition to your retirement plan.

How to Track Down a Lost 401(k)

If you think you may have left a retirement account behind, here are some trusted resources to start your search:

• National Registry of Unclaimed Retirement Benefits
  Enter your Social Security number to check for 401(k) accounts linked to your employment history.

• Retirement Savings Lost and Found
  This Department of Labor tool is expanding to help Americans locate old retirement accounts.

• MissingMoney.com
  A searchable database that includes unclaimed assets from across the United States and Canada.

In addition to using these tools, take a few proactive steps:

• Look through old pay stubs, benefits documents, or emails that may reference a retirement account.

• Contact your previous employers’ HR departments with your employment dates and personal details.

• Reach out to the plan administrator listed on any old statements. Even if the account was closed, they may be able to tell you what happened to the funds.

What if the Balance Was Under $1,000?

If your 401(k) had a balance under $1,000 when you left the company, it may have been cashed out and mailed to your last known address.

Some people received checks they forgot to cash, while others may have never received them at all.

Either way, checking with the plan provider could help resolve the status.

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