Losing a job you’ve committed to is one of life’s most unsettling moments. But the retirement savings you’ve built up — your 401(k) — is still yours, and it’s still working for you. With the right guidance, this transition can turn into one of the smartest financial moves of your life.

“One difficult thing happened. Let’s make sure a second one doesn’t — your retirement savings shouldn’t become a casualty of a company’s decision.” — Alan Gnoinski, Owner, AMG Financial

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Right now: Your 401(k) stays yours. Every dollar you put in is 100% yours. Anything your employer contributed that's already vested is protected too. A layoff or company closure doesn't change or shrink what you've built up.

Once you separate from your employer: You'll have a decision to make. You generally have a few choices — leave the money in the old plan, roll it into an IRA, move it to a new employer's plan, or take a cash distribution. Each option comes with different rules, fees, and tax consequences, so it's worth understanding them before you choose.

One option worth understanding: A Rollover IRA. Rolling a 401(k) into an IRA can typically be done tax-free and opens up investment choices that most workplace plans don't offer — including some products designed to limit downside risk during uncertain times. Whether it's the right move depends on your full situation.

This comparison is general in nature. Whether a rollover makes sense depends on your specific plan, fees,
investment options, and goals — we’ll walk through your situation directly

You’re already dealing with one major disruption. It’s reasonable to want your retirement savings shielded from unnecessary risk while you sort out what’s next.

Buffered and target-outcome products are one option some people consider during a transition like this. In general terms: they can offer a level of protection against market losses up to a defined point, depending on the specific product; they allow for market participation up to a set cap; they run on defined time periods, typically one to six years; and they're generally available inside an IRA, and not commonly offered inside employer 401(k) plans.

These aren’t right for everyone, and every product has trade-offs, costs, and conditions that vary. We’ll only
bring up a specific product after we understand your full picture — your timeline, income needs, other assets,
and comfort with risk.

Moving to an IRA brokerage account can open the door to a broader menu of investments than most 401(k) plans allow:

• Stocks & ETFs — individual equities and exchange-traded funds across sectors and markets
• Mutual Funds — actively and passively managed funds, including institutional share classes
• Fixed Income & Bonds — treasuries, municipal bonds, corporate bonds, and CDs
• Annuities & Income Products — options that can provide guaranteed income, including lifetime income
• Buffered / Structured Products — defined-outcome investments with stated protection levels and caps
• Alternative Investments — REITs, commodities, and other diversifying options not typically found in workplace plans

24+ Years Licensed. Alan Gnoinski has spent more than two decades working with clients through career transitions, retirement planning, and complex financial decisions.

Dually Registered. Alan is registered as both a broker-dealer representative and an Investment Adviser Representative. Depending on the type of account and services involved, recommendations may be made under a suitability/Best Interest standard (as a broker-dealer representative) or a fiduciary standard (as an Investment Adviser Representative). We'll always tell you clearly which capacity applies to the recommendations you receive, and how we're compensated, before you make any decision.

Locally Rooted in Buffalo. Based at The Financial Center in Williamsville, NY — your community, your advisor.

"You've had one difficult thing happen. My job is to help make sure your retirement savings isn't a second one."
— Alan Gnoinski, Owner, AMG Financial

01 — Free Consultation. No obligation. We review your current plan, your situation, and your goals. This meeting is about you — no pressure, no sales pitch.

02 — Custom Strategy. We walk you through a personalized plan, including rollover mechanics, investment options, protection strategies, and income considerations — explained in plain language.

03 — Seamless Rollover. If a rollover is the right fit, we handle the paperwork and coordination to move your funds from your 401(k) to your new IRA, aiming for a smooth, tax-free transition when eligible.

04 — Ongoing Partnership. As your life changes — a new job, new income, retirement on the horizon — your plan can change with it. We're here for the long term.

Can I just leave my 401(k) with my former employer? In some cases, yes. But your investment options stay frozen, you may lose access to personalized guidance, and fees can sometimes increase. Rolling into an IRA is one way to regain more control and flexibility — though it isn't automatically the right choice for everyone.

Is a rollover taxable? A direct rollover from a Traditional 401(k) to a Traditional IRA is generally tax-free when it's handled correctly, since pre-tax dollars move directly from one qualified account to another. We always recommend confirming your specific tax situation with a qualified tax professional.

What if I need money in the short term? We'll walk through your options, including income-producing investments within an IRA, and make sure any decision to take a distribution is made with a full understanding of the tax impact.

I'm not comfortable with market risk right now. That's a reasonable instinct. Some products are designed to keep savings invested with defined levels of downside protection. We can talk through whether something like that fits your comfort level and goals.

How is AMG Financial compensated? We'll fully explain how we're paid before you make any decision — whether that's an advisory fee, a commission, or a combination, depending on the type of account and services involved. No surprises.