Money

How to find all your accounts

The forgotten ones are the ones families lose.

Most people can name their main checking account. The accounts that get lost are the old ones: a 401(k) from a job years ago, a savings account opened for a promotion, a brokerage account nobody checks.

Places to look

1. Your email. Searching for "statement", "account" or "tax form" turns up banks and brokerages that still send mail.
2. Last year's tax return. Most 1099 and 1098 forms point to an account.
3. Your credit report. It lists credit cards and loans. It's free from AnnualCreditReport.com, the official site.
4. Old jobs. Each past employer may have a retirement plan with your name on it.
5. Your bank statements. Regular transfers out often point to another account.

Old retirement accounts

The US Department of Labor runs a free Retirement Savings Lost and Found database that can help find plans from former employers. Searching "Retirement Savings Lost and Found" finds it.

Money that's already been lost

Accounts left untouched for years are usually handed to the state as unclaimed property. MissingMoney.com searches many states at once, and each state also has its own free search.