Over a long and busy life, it’s easy to lose track of things. You might have a box of old photos in the attic, a favorite recipe tucked away in a drawer, or even a retirement account from a job you left decades ago. It might sound surprising, but millions of Americans have left behind retirement funds, and a significant portion of that money belongs to people just like you. This isn’t found money in the way of a winning lottery ticket; this is money you earned, that belongs to you, and that could make a real difference in your retirement.

Life gets complicated. You may have changed jobs several times, your former employer might have changed its name or merged with another company, or you may have moved and forgotten to update your address. Any one of these events could have disconnected you from a pension plan you were a part of. Searching for an unclaimed pension can feel like a daunting task, especially if you’re not sure where to start. The good news is that you don’t need to be a financial expert or a tech wizard to do it. There are free, reliable resources available to help you on your search.

This guide is designed to walk you through the process, step by step. We’ll break down what an unclaimed pension is, why it’s so important to look for one, and exactly how to conduct your search for missing money. Think of this as your personal roadmap to uncovering the retirement funds you worked so hard to earn. Let’s get started on the path to finding what’s yours.