Where do you go to check your Social Security estimate, compare Medicare plans, or track down a 401(k) from an old job? Start with your my Social Security account, Medicare Plan Compare, and the Department of Labor's Retirement Savings Lost and Found. If you're trying to find a pension from a plan that ended, there's a separate search for that, too.
You can start with the question on your mind today. If you're close to leaving work, that might be what health coverage will cost. If you're taking over the household finances after a divorce or the loss of a spouse, it may be figuring out what accounts you have and who to call about them. Here are the retirement planning websites I'd bookmark and what I'd do first on each one.
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Check your Social Security and Medicare options
1. My Social Security to review your earnings and benefit estimates
You can use your account to see the earnings Social Security has on file for you and compare your estimated retirement benefit at different claiming ages. It's worth looking at the earnings record before you focus on the monthly amount. If a year looks wrong, pull out any records you have, such as a W-2, and ask Social Security how to correct it.
First step: Open your earnings record and check for years with missing or unexpected amounts. Then compare the benefit estimates for the ages you're considering. If you plan to stop working before you claim, look at the future earnings assumption in the estimate. Go to my Social Security.
2. Medicare Plan Compare to look up plans where you live
When you're comparing Medicare Advantage or Part D drug plans, it's easy to start with the monthly premium. Also look at what you'd pay for the care and prescriptions you use. If you're looking at a Medicare Advantage plan, confirm that your doctors and preferred hospital are in its network.
First step: Enter your ZIP code. Have your medication list and preferred pharmacy handy so you can compare drug costs using the prescriptions you actually take. Go to Medicare Plan Compare.
3. SHIP to talk through your Medicare questions
Your State Health Insurance Assistance Program, or SHIP, offers free, unbiased Medicare counseling. This is where I'd start if you've looked at the plans and still have questions about what applies to you. For example, if you plan to work past 65, you can ask how your employer coverage may affect when you sign up for Medicare.
First step: Find your local program and write down the decision you need to make before you call. If the question involves coverage from work, have your employer's benefits information nearby. Find your local SHIP.
Look up retirement account rules and find old benefits
4. IRS Retirement Plans to check rules for your account
If you're wondering when you have to take money out of a retirement account or how a rollover works, the IRS is a good place to start. The answer can depend on the type of account and whether it belongs to you or you inherited it.
First step: Look at a recent statement and write down the type of account you have. Then go to the IRS page for the rule you're looking up. For example, start with the required minimum distribution FAQs if you're trying to find out when withdrawals must begin. Visit IRS Retirement Plans.
5. Retirement Savings Lost and Found to trace an old workplace plan
If you changed jobs and lost track of a 401(k) or pension, the Department of Labor database can help you find contact information for certain private-sector or union retirement plans. If you find a match, ask the plan administrator whether there's a benefit and what you need to do to follow up.
First step: Make a list of former employers and gather any old statements you still have. Sign in through Login.gov to search the database. If you're looking for benefits from a plan that ended, also check the PBGC unclaimed retirement benefits search. Go to Retirement Savings Lost and Found.
6. Unclaimed.org to find property held by a state
A forgotten bank account, an uncashed check, or certain insurance proceeds can end up with a state's unclaimed property program. The National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators connects you to official state searches. You can search those sites for free.
First step: Search the states where you've lived. If you've changed your name, try the names you used in those states. If you find a possible match, follow the claim instructions on the state's website. Find your state's unclaimed property program.
Plan for care before you need it
7. Eldercare Locator to find help close to home
The Eldercare Locator is a public service that connects older adults and their families with local resources. It's a place to look when the question is specific to where you live, such as who offers rides to appointments or where a family caregiver can ask about getting a break.
First step: Search using the ZIP code of the person who needs help. If you're helping a parent in another state, use their ZIP code. Visit the Eldercare Locator.
8. LongTermCare.gov to understand what care could look like
Long-term care can include help with daily activities, such as bathing or getting dressed. The Administration for Community Living explains where care can be provided and who might provide it. If you live alone or your family lives far away, it's worth thinking about who you could call and what paid help you might need.
First step: Read about care at home and in the community. Then ask yourself, "If I needed help at home for a few weeks, who would I call first?" Write down the answer and where you'd look if that person couldn't help. Explore long-term care options.
Check who you're working with and what's on your credit report
9. Investor.gov to check a financial professional's background
The SEC's Investor.gov can help you look up a financial professional or firm. You can check registration and review disclosures that appear in the public record. If something raises a question, bring it up before you decide whether to work together.
First step: Look up the person and the firm by name. If several results look alike, compare the firm and location with the information you were given. Visit Investor.gov.
10. AnnualCreditReport.com to review your credit reports
You can get free credit reports from Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion through AnnualCreditReport.com. Reviewing them can help you spot an account you don't recognize or information that needs to be corrected.
First step: Request your reports and start with the list of open accounts. Look for unfamiliar accounts or balances that seem wrong. If you find an error, follow the FTC's instructions for disputing credit report errors. Request your free credit reports.
Which retirement planning website should you start with?
Start with the decision that has a date attached to it. If you're leaving work and need health coverage, begin with Medicare or SHIP if you're eligible for Medicare. If you're deciding when to claim Social Security, check your earnings record and estimates first. If you're gathering account information after a loss or divorce, make a list of the accounts you know about, then use the search tools for anything you're having trouble finding.
If you've gathered the information and want help seeing how your income, taxes, and investments fit together, you can learn about our Simply Retirement Roadmapβ’.
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