---
title: Pitfalls Associated With Lost & Missing Participants
description: Williams highlights the dangers faced by small-balance 401(k) savers who've left their money behind in previous 401(k) plans, after changing jobs
---

[RCH Consolidation Corner](https://blog.rch1.com/blog)

# [Pitfalls Associated With Lost & Missing Participants](https://blog.rch1.com/blog/pitfalls-associated-with-lost-and-missing-participants-marketwatch-article)

 Written by [Neal Ringquist](https://blog.rch1.com/blog/author/neal-ringquist) | July 10, 2015

<https://www.marketwatch.com/story/do-you-feel-lucky-401k-saver-well-do-you-2015-07-10>"Do You Feel Lucky 401(k) Saver? Do You?"

Collaborating with Retirement Clearinghouse, Boston Research Technologies completed groundbreaking research earlier this year on[the mobile workforce and the job changer’s attitudes and behavior regarding their 401(k) accounts during job transition.](https://info.rch1.com/mobileworkforce) When asked what these participants did with their prior employer 401(k) accounts, the majority of respondents indicated they left their balances behind with 53% of Millennials, the most mobile age cohort, indicating they had left at least one retirement account with their prior employer.  
Leaving retirement accounts with a prior employer can lead to bad outcomes. While the move may be a smart one for participants leaving a large company with a well-structured plan and low cost investment alternatives, even good intentions can lead to bad outcomes if the participant doesn’t keep their prior employers up-to-date on their address changes. Retirement Clearinghouse [CEO Spencer Williams](http://www.rch1.com/corporate-profile/management-team/j-spencer-williamspresident-and-ceo), a regular contributor to MarketWatch as a MarketWatch Retirementor retirement advice expert, published an excellent blog post this month outlining some of [the pitfalls associated with lost and missing participants titled, 'Do You Feel Lucky, 401(k) Saver? Well, Do You?" For Clint Eastwood Dirty Harry fans, the article will make your day.](http://www.marketwatch.com/story/do-you-feel-lucky-401k-saver-well-do-you-2015-07-10.)

 

 

[View full post](https://blog.rch1.com/blog/pitfalls-associated-with-lost-and-missing-participants-marketwatch-article)

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