If you’ve ever changed jobs, rolled over accounts, or simply lost track of paperwork, there’s a real chance you have unclaimed retirement funds sitting in an old 401(k), pension, or IRA. Many people don’t realize this money is still theirs—and it could make a meaningful difference to your financial security right now.

If you’ve changed jobs a few times, there’s a good chance you’ve left money behind in an old 401(k) or pension account. Over years—and especially with market growth—those “forgotten” funds can turn into thousands of dollars. The challenge is simply finding them.

It’s more common than you’d think to have retirement money sitting in an old 401(k) or IRA you’ve completely forgotten about. Job changes, company mergers, name changes, and moves can all break the trail between you and your savings.

If you’ve changed jobs a few times, there’s a good chance you’ve left a 401(k) or other retirement account sitting with an old employer. Ignoring those accounts can mean higher fees, weaker investment options, and missed opportunities to grow your nest egg. The good news: rolling over old retirement accounts is usually straightforward—if you do it the right way.

Every so often, a headline or social media post pops up claiming you can buy unclaimed retirement funds or somehow take over abandoned 401(k)s for profit. It sounds tempting: billions of dollars in forgotten accounts are out there—could any of that become yours?