The 1 Thing You Can't Forget to Take When Leaving a Job

Switching jobs can be both practical and necessary, and today the average American changes jobs an average of 12 times before he or she retires. But are you forgetting something when you go?

With a new job comes many financial considerations. You've probably also thought through how your new salary, job location and duties will impact your quality of life. Unfortunately, you could be overlooking one very important piece of your future when you leave one employer for another: Your 401(k). About 33,000 401(k) accounts are abandoned every year, according to Charles Thorngren, CEO of investment firm Noble Gold, in a Marketplace interview in December.

Don't Let Your Account Become an Orphan

There is such a thing called "orphaned retirement accounts." These are accounts that have