What happens to the 401(k) money I contributed but haven't vested when I quit?

When you leave a job, you always keep 100% of your own contributions and their growth — that money is yours no matter what. What you risk losing is the unvested portion of the employer match. If your plan uses a vesting schedule and you haven't satisfied it, the company reclaims the unvested match when you separate; for example, on a graded schedule where you're 40% vested, you'd forfeit 60% of the matched dollars. That's why it often pays to check your vesting status before resigning — staying a few extra weeks to cross a vesting milestone can lock in thousands of dollars. Your vested balance can then be left in the plan, rolled to your new 401(k), or rolled to an IRA. Confirm your vesting percentage in your account portal before you give notice. Weigh the full move at wealthserene.com/for/job-change.