What do you do with you 401K plan when you leave a company. Can you leave your money where it is (say it is performing well), or do you have to roll it into somewhere else?

Name the helicopter company who you have experience with if you have left $$ behind in your old companies plan.

Thanks.

if you are happy with plan and getting good return. Major oil company payed good dividends.

That being said, I put together a "non standard" investment portfolio with the help of the HR guy. I wanted high risk high return (or loss). That is not for everyone, just those willing to risk because of other retirement income.

So the company you leave it with is not the question, the portfolio is the key.

BTW, I see that money as gambled. All investments are a gamble.

Letting someone from HR set up your investments at RLC is pretty funny.

It may be semantics, but investing is not gambling in the casino sense of the word.

In theory, everyone loses at the casino based on house odds being against the gambler, primarily the games based on pure chance.

If you are talking about skill games, better skilled players have an advantage.

In the stock market, theoretically every investor can win.

In commodities, close to half win, but a preponderance on commodity market trades are for the purpose of hedging supplier sale or end user purchase.

Kenny for Christ sake.

Wish someone had given me this advice 30 years ago. I've had to make up for lost time.

Roll it into a self-directed IRA. Then you control it and have many more (and better) investment choices to select from that pay you, instead of paying excessive fees to your former company's brokerage. Typical employer provided 401(k) plans and their limited fund choices are set up to benefit the employer and that brokerage, not you.

No tax or penalty hit if you do a direct rollover to an IRA. I recommend determining your risk tolerance (expressed as an asset allocation....stocks vs bonds) and then invest in low-cost index mutual funds tracking an appropriate financial index (S&P500, etc.) accordingly. (VTSAX (0.04% ER) and VBTLX (0.05% ER) are a very popular example).

Vanguard was the pioneer and most well known brokerage for this type of self-directed index approach and can help you make the rollover. Fidelity is another good one if you don't like Vanguard.

Runs on autopilot, just check in and rebalance to your chosen asset allocation ratio once or twice a year. No need to stress about the daily ups and downs. You're in it for the long run.

You won't "beat the market" (because you are buying a mutual fund that mimics "the market"), but full-service fee-based brokers rarely do, either. Not over time, anyway. So why pay their fees? And "only" matching market returns is really not that bad. Somewhere around 10% for the S&P500 since inception, for example.

Good luck!

Roll it over to TSP if you have one.

Can you roll into TSP if you're no longer in gove service? 

Roll into a self directed IRA. Anything the company's 401k plan invests in you can invest in outside of that plan, and probably for a lower expense ratio.

You can roll it over to a company like Vanguard or TD ameritrade and then have more options to choose from. Usually Company 401Ks are very limited in what they will allow.

A lot of people do a mixture of ETFs to spread their risk.

keep a 401k with an employer you no longer work for.

You can roll it over into another employers 401k or you

can roll it over into an IRA....simple or Roth.

Also, at any time, you can rollover the 401k that your

current employer sponsers into an IRA....simple or Roth.

You also can rollover IRA's into your 401k.

Stop being so lazy.  All these rules are easy to find.

Been there done that

umm....no. mostly wrong. 

Here's where lots of pilots mess up. Most of us do not know enough financial details to properly invest. My suggestion is to get a financial advisory in your 30's. Don't wait like me to get one in my 50's. Stats show that those with a financial advisor early 4-7% more that those who try to go it alone. 

The real problem is that company plans do not provide enough diversity to weather the ups and especially the downs. So many pilots, especially the young ones, think they have it all figured out. Get a professional.

My example is consistent with many I worked with. I did a career in public safety and promoted up the food chain so I have a great retirement. From there 14 years of HAA and only made over 100K for 3 years. (Was just under it for 3 more years) At 58, I got in touch with a long time friend and financial advsisor. He's also fiduciary. I always thought he was one of the high end type of financial professionals. Finally I asked and he said he would rather get someone involved younger than older to get them on path to financial independence. I signed up and he really changed my financial future. 

He also manages a few other pilots from my former company. One who was able to retire a year earlier than planned. For me, I retired with a paid off house, a new car and an airplane. Most importantly, never have to worry about money again. This was accomplished in roughly 8 years. Think what he could do with someone who gets set up in their 30's. I'll be happy to provide the name if you post your email. I get nothing except the satisfaction of helping Brother or Sister professional with their financial future. Great stuff.

look up the “401k rule of 55”