By Andrea Thompson, CFP, CRPC(US), CCS

We're often meeting with clients who aren't sure what to do with US-based employer retirement plans. There is a lot of criteria up for consideration, so we thought it would be helpful to put together a guide to help them with their decision making.

Specifically, for Canadians who have worked in the United States, navigating the decision of what to do with a former employer’s 401(k) can be complex. While rolling a 401(k) into an IRA is often seen as the default option in the U.S., the analysis changes significantly once you become a Canadian tax resident.

For Canadians, this decision focuses less on investment preferences and more on understanding tax treatment, legal protections, and the implications for long-term planning—factors that are crucial and can be easily overlooked.

This article highlights the key trade-offs to consider when thinking about a 401(k) to IRA rollover as a Canadian resident.

Read the blog post here for more details!