Who does my 401(k) actually belong to?

Our coaches get some version of this question pretty often and it’s based on a reasonable concern. Everyone is urged to contribute to their 401(k), but what happens to that money if you leave your company? It is an employer sponsored plan after all, does that mean you lose some or all of it behind if you leave?

The short answer is that your 401(k) belongs to you, not your company. If you leave, you take everything you contributed and any investment gains on those contributions with you. For the slightly longer answer with the details on what happens to a company match, and what vesting means, you can read the whole story here.