Missing Assets: Unclaimed Pension and Retirement Account Search

Another increasingly common problem: former employees of bankrupt companies unable to locate their 401(k) accounts, because many insolvent businesses fail to provide for the administration of 401k plan assets when they cease operations. Participants in defined-contribution retirement plans such as the 401(k) are protected when their employers fail or otherwise cease operations, because they individually own the assets in their accounts.

This differs from employees with traditional (defined-benefit) pension plans, which are subject to the solvency of the employer; but may be protected against loss by the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, the federal agency responsible for the regulation of private pension plans. (For assistance with a missing defined-benefit pension, go to Lost Pension Search. For assistance with a lost IRA, go to: Lost IRA Search

The financial institutions holding unclaimed 401K assets - banks and brokerages appointed by the plan administrator - make little if any effort to locate lost employees and missing retirement plan participants, because by law their responsibility is to the company, not the employee.

If you have reason to believe you are entitled to claim a missing 401k, either as the employee, spouse or rightful heir, but have not received payment, complete the secure order form below to initiate a search.