|
Anchor Intro: What if finding treasure was as simple as calling up your former
employer? You would be amazed at how many people walk away from a job without claiming their retirement money.
Bankrate.com shows you where to look, and how to go about reclaiming your lost treasure.
Voice over 1: Go through the lost and found at an airport and you'll be amazed at the valuable
things people leave behind.
SOT: "Carry-on bags that were left behind with clothing and personal effects, over here we have a wheel
chair, here we have a fake palm tree that was left in the parking garage. Up here we have blinds, strollers, portable
chairs ..."
Voice over 2: But if you think it's odd that people would leave these things behind, consider
this: Thousands of Americans have walked off and left pension plans behind.
Voice over 3: The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp. is holding $75 million in pension benefits
for 26,000 people. The average amount is around $3,500.
Voice over 4: How does it happen? The typical case is a young worker who moves on to the next
job, not realizing they're leaving money on the table. Or companies that move, close or terminate their pension plan.
Voice over 5: Want to see if you've got money waiting in the land of lost and found pensions?
There are two Web sites you can visit. The first is the Pension Benefit Guarantee Corp. The other is National Registry
of Unclaimed Benefits. You can check them both in less than a minute.
No matter how long that money goes missing, you'll never lose it. Companies have to
report it, the government has to keep it and even if you die, your heirs are entitled to it. For Bankrate.com, I'm
Kristin Arnold.
|
