Lose your job or change employers and you'll need to figure out what to do with the money in your 401(k) retirement account.

Greg McBride, senior financial analyst at Bankrate.com says you have several options.

"You can leave it with your former employer if your balance is at least $5,000. But if your balance is below that, look at doing a rollover into an IRA. And if the balance is less $1,000 than make sure you line that up pretty quickly before the employer cuts you a check."

If you are just changing jobs you can transfer your assets to your new employer's 401-(k).

McBride says it's important to remember that your retirement accounts are not short-term savings accounts.

"You don't want to tap your retirement account to pay bills. That means a 10 percent early withdrawal penalty, plus taxes on the amount that you withdraw so you could easily end up just 65 cents on the dollar."

McBride says if you are 55 or older and not likely to return to the workforce, you may be able to avoid that 10 percent early withdrawal penalty.

If you have employer stock in your 401-(k) account you may not want to roll it over to and IRA. Be sure to talk to a tax advisor.

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A lay-off and the 401(k)