6 reasons not to roll over your 401k

Lower fees With an IRA, you lose the financial advantage of group buying power, says Bogosian.Many funds come in two flavors: institutional and retail. Most individuals don't have the required minimums to get in the former, so they must buy retail funds."Most 401(k), 403(b) and 457 plans have significant buying power -- much more than the individual," Bogosian says. His advice: "Look before you leap. You could be paying more for exactly the same thing."But be careful that you're comparing apples to apples, says Slott. It's often difficult to determine the fees charged by 401(k) plans.

Security and Control One big fear that investors have: If I'm no longer at the company, I no longer have control of my money. Not necessarily true. In many cases, you'll have the same rights to select funds and reallocate your assets whether you work at the old company or not.Check to see if your 401(k) plan gives you the same access and investment options as current employees, says Natalie Choate, author of "Life and Death Planning for Retirement Benefits."Also, make sure costs or fees will remain the same and compare those total costs to your IRA options."While you can't contribute to the plan or take a loan, your account has all of the same investment options and fiduciary protections, whether you're a current or former employee," says Bogosian.

Access to Stable Value Funds

Within an employer retirement plan, you may be able to put money into a stable value fund. These funds are not available in IRAs. So if you're looking for a place to keep cash for your upcoming retirement, your former employer's retirement plan could be the bucket to use, says Bogosian, "and with much higher returns than a money market fund outside the plan."

The average return: 2.06 percent, according to June 2010 numbers from the Stable Value Investment Association, an industry group.

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