What Do I Do With My 401K When I Retire? 
When you retire your former employer will send you a letter describing the options available with your 401 -LRB- k -RRB- plan . Plans vary and so do options . As mentioned one of the frequently offered options is the privilege of rolling the account into a personal IRA . Since you would be gaining personal control of this asset this might be a very smart thing to do . If the employer allows you to keep the funds in his plan you should check to determine how much of the assets of the fund are invested in company stock . That could be a major consideration . Some 401 -LRB- k -RRB- plans offer flexible arrangements but most will want the money settled in a short time after you retire . Your financial advisor or retirement income certified professional can give you helpful information concerning the options presented . This money needs to be used in a wise manner as you could be retired for a very long time . 