Forest Hill's Jeff Judge in CNBC: The 401(k) mistake that can cost you thousands before a job change

By Jeff Judge, CFP®, AEP®, ChFC®, CLU®, Managing Partner, Chesapeake Financial Planners, Forest Hill, MD.

Most people assume the money their employer puts into their 401(k) is theirs the moment it lands in the account. It usually isn't. Company matches often come with a vesting schedule attached, and if you leave before that clock runs out, some or all of that money goes back to the company.

CNBC asked me about this, and my answer was simple. An unvested match isn't a bonus you've already earned. It's a conditional promise, and the condition is time. I've seen a client walk right up to the edge of a big decision with an offer on the table, only to realize she was three months from her vesting cliff and about to forfeit her entire match. One extra month made the difference between keeping it all and losing it all.

For families in Bel Air and Fallston, this shows up most often around a job change or a relocation for work. It's easy to focus on salary and title and forget to check the plan document. I tell clients the same thing whether they're commuting into Towson or working from home in Harford County: pull up your vesting schedule before you accept anything, not after.

The takeaway is simple. Before any career move, know your number. Multiply your unvested percentage by the employer-funded balance in your account. That's what's actually on the table, separate from salary or title.

This piece builds on "My 401(k) fully vests this month, why my latest work anniversary is worth thousands," in CNBC (August 2026).

Jeff Judge, CFP®, AEP®, ChFC®, CLU®, is Managing Partner at Chesapeake Financial Planners in Forest Hill, MD. Book an intro call.