I rolled over an IRA acct from my last job in 1990. I moved, bank changed names How do I find my money?

Answer 1

Ahhh, time for a little skip tracing on an account eh? I would first gather all the available information on the IRA, the company you worked for and the bank before it changed names. I would be looking for old statements on the IRA. I would then devote a entire spiral notebook to the task. Begin by calling any phone numbers on the statements. Call the old company you worked for and find out if they still use the same plan and be prepared to take notes at every step. Write down dates, times,numbers called, people talked to, their direct lines, their extension numbers, their positions in the company etc. like fax numbers email addresses etc. The hardest part will be to get to the right place department, person. The right department will be benefits or HR or close. Once you have navigated that maze you should find it required that you positively identify yourself to the people who will hold the answers to your questions. make sure you are talking to the head of the horse and not the rear part that will likely provide what you do not want. Ask to speak to supervisors and make sure they know you are in need of help while assuring them you are taking notes as far as names numbers and call notes etc. The occasional drop of a line including words like federal trade commission, state attorney generals complaints division and the securities and exchange commission can help to show you mean business and will complain if needed will almost certainly help to get their attention. remember you are not here to make friends, thios is serious business and if you are not getting the help you need call back and complain like crazy demanding corporate contact information and actually complain in writing. The squeaky wheel gets the grease and these people are not going to be making any money helping you but you need to show them you are not going to take no for an answer and will rain on their lazy day parade if they do not give you help and clear answers. Something has happened along the way where you moved, lost touch, failed to put in a change of address or something because these entities are I believe required to provide you with statements of the status of your account.

The IRS may have been receiving data from them even if you have not. You may need to talk to an accountant of good repute to see if you need to modify your tax statements from prior years as well, I am not sure about that. Try calling the IRS to see if they have any documents more recent than yours if you do not get firm results on day 1 of your search. They may be able to take you right where you ned to be with a few calls. If there is alocal office time a trip there in mid to late afternoon on a middle of day week when the line will be small to ask in person what they may have that can help you.

By starting the process with conviction and knowing the faster and more enthusiastically you dig in the better results you are going to get. By keeping notes while always trying to speak to the head of departments you should be able to track down your money in less than a day. Keep detailed notes. Make an actual map page showing on paper whewre you have searched and where you think you should try next. Think like the money, where would have been the logical place for it to have gone?? Who knows the answers to your questions and do not waste time speaking with people who are customer service, they know little more than what they are told and the chance they have been told what happened 10 years ago is less than the chance you want their job. Focus on the former employer or administrator of the old plan and the bank that had the account originally even if they have changed names. You may be in for a nice surprise when you do find the dough though. Good Luck. Be persistent and demanding. Make sure you let everyone know you are taking notes as far as name date time numbers called people talked to etc and talk to supervisors not paid by the hour folks who probably dont even know what IRA stands for.

Zilla

Answer 2

Depending on the time frame, if the last time you saw your money was 1990 the funds where probably escheated to the state you live in. State escheat laws mandate that a financial institution turn over money from accounts that have not been active for certain lengths of time. Start by going to the bank that took over your old bank....if you have an account number it will save them a boat load of time trying to search you out. If the account is still on the banks database it wasn't turned over to the state....so start there. If the bank can't track your money down they should advise you to go to the state for your funds, but not without doing some research on their own.

Answer 3

Dig through your file cabinet and see if you have any old statements from the account. If you don't know the new name of the bank, try Googling the old name and see if it comes up. Once you find the bank, you should be able to locate the account by telling them your social security number, previous address, etc. Good luck.

Answer 4

Yes, Pirate Kitten's Wang would be a great name.

Answer 5

should be able to track by the account number