When you retire or leave on employer for another you generally have the option to take the retirement funds you have in your 401(k), 403(b), 457 or any other type of qualified retirement plan into your own “self directed” IRA Plan. Caution needs to prevail here because you want to do it in a manner that preserves the tax deferral on those monies as well as does not trigger a taxable event. Another very important aspect that needs some careful and professional review is if you have company stock inside your plan there are ways to achieve even better tax advantages when you “roll over” your account.