Do you recommend rolling over a 401k?

[hoffdano]

Originally Posted by johnfrisco

I recently got laid off and kept all the money with T Rowe Price. 100% in stable money market funds.

Advice?

You mean money market funds that have earned 0.2% annually over the last 20 years?

If so you are losing 3-5% per year just for inflation. This is a horrible long term choice.

I am not familiar with current T Rowe Price funds. But they surely have a broad market index fund or a "balanced" fund that is far better than what you have now.

[johnfrisco]

Originally Posted by golfgal

Not if you do a direct roll-over. If you have them send you the money and you deposit it, yes, they will take out taxes. You do have 90 days to get those funds into an IRA and you can get the money back at the end of the year but it's just easier to do the direct rollover

I considered my 401K money emergency money. T. Rowe Price offered me to keep it with them. All of it is in 100% Stable Money Markets.

I will have to withdraw these funds in the future if I don't have a new job by the time my unemployment runs out.

What offers the least tax burdens--401K, Traditional IRA or Roth. Forget about my retirement? When I need the money I will be forced to take it out and want to pay the least in the amount of taxes.

Thanks for any advice!