[nmh]

It's the new company's way of gently urging you on by not matching contributions. It also wouldn't make sense. The buying company really wants you to move on. When you are not an employee of the company, they have no incentive to match new contributions and shouldn't be expected to. Matching contribution is a perk for employees of the company.

Often when a company buys another company these plans change hands too. It's not unusual. Your money can still grow if you watch the investment mix. Ideally they'd like you to MOVE the 401K to the next employer.

[beaversmom]

We weren’t expecting or getting any matching of contributions. We could no longer contribute to the account after he left the company. The money just grew a little over the years because it was in a fixed account. Just basically sitting there. What we are being told now is we have $15 dollars in the account—$10 from my husband $5 from the old company. My husband was fully vested when he left the company. Now that the company has changed hands, we can only get the $10—not the full $15. Just trying to find out if anyone else has had this experience or heard about it.

[Brookhaven]

Ideally they’d like you to MOVE the 401K to the next employer.

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No, no, no. Do not move it to your next employer’s plan. Roll it over into a private plan with someone like Fidelity or Vanguard. The it’s 100% yours and you have 100% control of it. Exact same tax advantages as a 401K plan with an employer, but you are in charge of your own money.