--- title: A Roll-In in Time Saves Far More Than Nine description: Spencer Williams modifies the familiar proverb “a stitch in time saves nine” for the benefit of 401(k) savers who have multiple retirement savings accounts. image: http://blog.rch1.com/hubfs/Publications/MarketWatch/Logo/marketwatch-logo.png --- [![Retirement Clearinghouse Logo](https://blog.rch1.com/hs-fs/hubfs/raw_assets/public/Retirement_Clearinghouse_May2022/images/logo.png?width=1000&height=648&name=logo.png "Retirement Clearinghouse Logo")](https://rch1.com/) [Privacy Policy](https://securities.rch1.com/common/PrivacyStatement.pdf) [Sponsors/Service Providers](https://rch1.com/plan-sponsors) [Individuals](https://rch1.com/individuals) [Login](https://rch1.com/#) - [Home](https://rch1.com/home-page) - [Individuals](https://rch1.com/individuals) - [Individuals Home](https://rch1.com/individuals/individuals-home) - [Who is RCH?](https://rch1.com/individuals/who-is-rch) - [Why Does RCH Have My Retirement Savings?](https://rch1.com/individuals/why-does-rch-have-my-retirement-funds) - 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A [roll-in](http://www.marketwatch.com/story/let-a-roll-in-help-increase-your-retirement-income-2015-10-02) becomes the equivalent of the stitch, saving participants considerable time and money as they change jobs. As the original proverb suggests, Williams argues that savers are much better-off consolidating their balances at each job change, vs. waiting until retirement to do so. Williams backs up his advice with plenty of facts.  The [Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI)](http://www.ebri.org) estimates that the average American will change jobs over seven times in a 40-year career. Using figures obtained from a [study of mobile workforce behaviors](https://info.rch1.com/mobileworkforce), Williams calculates that waiting to perform seven roll-ins at retirement age would take between 35 and 42 weeks of effort.  To make matters worse, unconsolidated accounts lose a substantial amount in fees and compounded interest. For example, an account stranded at age 30 would lose an estimated $6,708.54 in fees and compounded interest by age 65.   Finally, applying the “time is money” theory, Williams asserts that $100 to $500 of personal time spent rolling in balances now is much better than spending $700 to $3500 at age 65. In addition to their virtues of saving time and money, roll-ins reduce the risk of [losing your savings](http://www.marketwatch.com/story/are-you-still-feeling-lucky-401k-saver-2016-09-07). Savers who’ve stranded accounts with less than $5,000 may be subject to being forced out of their plan and into a [safe-harbor IRA](https://blog.rch1.com/blog/safe-harbor-iras-arent-always-safe), or worse – find themselves facing an involuntary cash-out if their balance is less than $1,000.  With one in six Americans relocating in any given year, the chances of these small, stranded accounts “going missing” can skyrocket. 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