You Spent a Career Taking Care of Other People's Families. Let's Look at Yours.
We work with employees of Service Corporation International who are coordinating a 401(k) match that grows with tenure, a self-directed brokerage window most people never open, and a decision about what happens to the balance at separation.
If you've been in this profession long enough to reach the top of the match schedule, you've likely built a bigger balance than your salary alone would suggest. Most people in this field never sit down with anyone about what to do with it.
This page is for you if you're asking:
- What match tier am I actually in, and am I capturing all of it?
- What is the self-directed account in my plan, and should I be using it?
- What happens to my 401(k) when I leave?
- Is what I've saved enough to actually stop working?
BAS Financial is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Service Corporation International. Company names are used only to describe the employer benefit structures discussed.
Careers in this profession tend to be long ones. That's exactly why the planning deserves attention.
Three Things Worth Understanding
Your match rate goes up the longer you stay
The plan matches a share of what you contribute, and that share steps up as your vested service grows. Two people putting in the same dollar amount can be getting very different deals depending on where they sit in the schedule. It's the quiet reason long-career people in this field end up with balances that surprise them, and it's also the reason contributing below the match cap costs a veteran more than it costs a newer employee.
There's a self-directed account most people never open
Your plan allows a self-directed brokerage account, which opens up investments well beyond the standard fund menu. Almost nobody uses it, here or at most plans that offer one. It isn't right for everyone, and the standard menu is genuinely fine for a lot of people. But it's worth knowing the option exists before you decide it isn't for you.
Leaving is the decision, not retiring
The moment that matters most usually isn't your last birthday at work, it's the day you separate. That's when your balance becomes portable and every option opens at once: leave it, roll it, or move it. Getting that sequence right matters more than most people expect, and it's easy to default into the choice that takes the least paperwork.
Match schedules, vesting rules, and account options are set by your employer's plan documents and can change. Nothing above is a statement of your specific terms — confirm your own match tier, your vested service, and whether the self-directed option is available to you using your current plan materials or your benefits department.
Thinking About Your Last Few Years on the Job?
How much you contribute now, how the account is invested, whether the self-directed window makes sense for you, and what you do with the balance at separation all interact with each other. Those decisions work best in a particular order, with enough runway to actually act on what you find. We help people work through them while there's still time for the answers to matter.
If you'd rather start by understanding what your current plan actually costs you, our 401(k) Fee Review is a good first step.
What Happens Next
We'll email your guide within a few minutes, attached and ready to open. Nothing to schedule, and no obligation to talk to anyone.
Work through the match section, the self-directed account section, and the separation checklist at whatever pace suits you.
If it raises questions worth a real conversation, book a complimentary call. If not, the guide is yours either way.
"I'm not sure I have enough for someone like you to be interested." We hear this most often from people who have quietly done better than they realize. A long career at the top of a match schedule compounds in a way that salary alone doesn't predict, and plenty of people in this profession are surprised by their own statement. If you're not sure where you stand, that's a reason to have the conversation, not a reason to skip it.
We're here to close the gap
Your benefits materials do a good job explaining what the match is and how to enroll. What they don't cover is the part you actually need: whether the self-directed window fits how you want to invest, how the account should be positioned in the years before you leave, and what the sequence looks like on the way out. That's the gap, and it's the one we help people close.
Common Questions We Hear
Is BAS Financial affiliated with my employer?
No. BAS Financial is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Service Corporation International. Company names are used only to describe the employer benefit structures discussed. This is independent financial education, not a company benefit or a company-sponsored resource.
How do I know which match tier I'm in?
It generally tracks your vested service. In a tiered structure, the plan matches a share of what you contribute and that share steps up as your service passes set milestones. Your plan statement and your employer's benefits resources are the place to confirm your own tier and the current rates, since plan terms can change.
What is a self-directed brokerage account inside a 401(k), and is it worth using?
It's an account inside your plan that lets you invest beyond the standard fund menu. Whether it's worth using depends on how you want to invest, how much attention you want to give it, and whether the added flexibility actually solves a problem you have. For some people it's a meaningful upgrade. For others the standard menu is genuinely fine. It's a decision worth making on purpose rather than by default.
What happens to my 401(k) when I leave my employer?
Generally you can leave the balance in the plan if it's above the plan's threshold, roll it to an IRA, roll it to a new employer's plan, or take it in cash. Each has different tax and cost consequences, and cashing out is usually the most expensive. The right answer depends on your situation, so it's worth walking through before you're filling out the paperwork.
My plan's recordkeeper already handles this. Why would I need anyone else?
A recordkeeper's job is to administer the plan, keep the records accurate, and process what you tell it to do. That's a different job from helping you decide what to do. Neither role replaces the other, and knowing which one you're getting is worth being clear about.
Do I have to live near your office to work with you?
No. Most of our work happens virtually, so where you're located doesn't limit how we can help. People in this profession are spread across the country, and that's not an obstacle.
Book a Complimentary Conversation About Your 401(k)
No pitch and no obligation to continue afterward. Just a real conversation about what you've built, what the self-directed account could do for you, and what your options look like when you decide to leave.
What happens after you book: You'll get a short intake to share the basics ahead of time, a focused conversation with Brad Stevens rather than a call center, and a plain-English summary of anything worth following up on — whether or not you decide to work together.
BAS Financial is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Service Corporation International. Company names are used only to describe the employer benefit structures discussed. Content on this page is educational only and does not constitute personalized investment, tax, or legal advice. Plan features described here are general in nature and are not a statement of any individual's plan terms; match schedules, vesting, and available accounts are set by the plan documents and can change — confirm your own plan details with your current plan materials. Individual circumstances vary; consult a qualified professional before making decisions about your specific situation.Self-directed brokerage accounts provide access to additional investment choices that may involve greater risk and complexity than investments available through a plan's standard investment lineup. Such accounts may not be appropriate for all investors.Rolling assets from an employer-sponsored retirement plan to an IRA is an important financial decision. Factors to consider include fees and expenses, available investment options, services, withdrawal provisions, creditor protections, and required minimum distribution rules. Investors should carefully evaluate these considerations before making a rollover decision.
Bradly Stevens, MBA, LUTCF®, CLU®, ChFC®, WMCP®, CEPA®, CLTC®, AIF®
5405 Morehouse Drive, Suite 245, San Diego, CA 92121
(858) 335-4945