Client Login

What To Do Before Leaving Your Job

Jan 8, 2018 | Career & Business

Circling Job adverts in newspaper but first consider what to do before leaving your job

There are many reasons why you might be considering looking for a new job. Maybe you’re seeking more responsibility – or less. Perhaps your job is no longer rewarding – monetarily or otherwise. You might be relocating, changing careers entirely, or have had the unfortunate experience of losing a job. Whatever the reason, there are many financial factors to consider before you make a career move. Planning ahead can help ease the transition into your new job, and help secure your finances for your immediate and longer term future.

Make Sure You Have An Emergency Fund

Everyone should have an emergency fund. SageVest Wealth Management generally recommends maintaining a cash balance of at least three to six months of living expenses. This helps you to cover large or unexpected expenses, or a lapse in income, without having to go into debt. Having an emergency fund is critical if you’re changing jobs, even if you’ve secured your next employment position, as you never know how a job will evolve until you get to know the company.

Stop Or Reduce Your Retirement Savings

Ideally you’ve secured new employment. However, if you might be losing your job and don’t have adequate emergency savings on hand, consider reducing or stopping contributions to your employer retirement plan. You might choose to reduce them to the minimum amount you must contribute in order to gain your employer match.  However, if you keep contributing to capture an employer match, verify that you’ll get to keep it, as most employer matches are subject to vesting schedules that depend upon your employment tenure.

Evaluate Automatic Investments

If you might have a gap in your income, take a look at any additional investment savings you’re making to other investment accounts. It might be wise to stop these investment contributions and save these amounts in cash until a future income stream is secured.

Reduce Your Expenses

If you’re not confident about your ability to support your expenses during a job transition, reviewing and reducing your expenses is a worthy exercise. Cut out unnecessary spending and add the savings to your emergency fund.

Secure A Home Equity Loan

If you’re still employed, but preparing for a transition, consider obtaining a home equity loan, as qualification is dependent upon employment, including employment tenure. We don’t recommend drawing upon the line of credit unless necessary, but having it available creates a potential financial lifeline.

Exercise Stock Options and Stock Units

If you’ve received company stock options or stock units, these benefits are often forfeited upon termination. In such case, you should sell and capitalize on this employment benefit while the opportunity exists.

Use Your Leave

Unless you’re going to be paid out for your remaining leave, be sure to use it before you depart. If you’re looking for a new job, a few days off can give you time to finesse your resume, begin job hunting, and engage in networking. The one caveat is if you’re retiring with a pension that’s tied to years of employment.  In that case, it’s best to use your days rather than receive compensation, as a longer employment span helps to boost your pension payments.

Review Your Benefits

The bottom line on your paycheck is important, but so too are any additional employment benefits you receive, like health, life and disability insurance. Typically, group coverage ceases along with your employment. This can leave you and your dependents vulnerable. Explore replacement coverage options before you leave, to ensure that you and your loved ones are protected.

Network, Network, Network!

The reality is that finding another job can be easier if you know someone to facilitate an introduction. Share your resume and areas of interest with family, friends, and colleagues, to make sure your name’s being circulated and considered.

Rollover Your Retirement Account

One of the biggest financial mistakes that individuals make is maintaining fragmented investment accounts and losing sight of their bigger financial picture. Consolidating your savings to the extent possible helps you to better monitor your financial progress, investment structure, and general financial decisions. Consider rolling your existing retirement plan into a new company retirement plan or electing an IRA rollover, which gives you the greatest amount of financial freedom, while retaining tax-deferred retirement savings benefits.

Contact Your Financial Advisor

There’s a lot to think about before you begin the process of finding a new job, and especially once you have an employment offer to consider. SageVest Wealth Management can help guide your decisions before you leave your current job, during any transition period, and upon gaining new employment, including evaluating your compensation and benefit packages such as retirement, bonus structures, stock grants, insurance benefits and other options. Because SageVest advisors take the time to get to know you, our recommendations consider your career goals alongside your broader life, family, and financial goals. We encourage you to contact us if you’re considering a career move.

Prepared by SageVest Wealth Management. Copyright .
Standard Disclosure

The information contained herein is obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but its accuracy or completeness is not guaranteed. This article is for informational purposes only. The views expressed are those of SageVest Wealth Management and should not be construed as investment advice. All expressions of opinions are subject to change and past performance is no guarantee of future results. SageVest Wealth Management does not render legal, tax, or accounting services. Accordingly, you, your attorneys and your accountants are ultimately responsible for determining the legal, tax and accounting consequences of any suggestions offered herein.

In accordance with IRS CIRCULAR 230, we inform you that any U.S. Federal tax advice contained in this communication (including attachments) is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used by a taxpayer, for the purpose of (a) avoiding penalties under the Internal Revenue Code or that may otherwise be imposed on the taxpayer by any government taxing authority or agency, or (b) promoting, marketing or recommending to another party any transaction or matter addressed herein.

The provision of a link to any third party website does not mean that SageVest endorses that website. If you visit any website via a link provided here, you do so at your own risk and indemnify SageVest from any loss or damage incurred.

Make a wise investment in your future today.