What Does It Mean To Be Vested In Your Retirement Plan? 
The vesting period of a retirement plan is generally tied to your employment tenure . In a 401 -LRB- k -RRB- defined contribution retirement plan , employers may match part of your contribution . But the vesting schedule only permits a portion of the employers match to transfer with the employee if they seek employment else where . When you 're interviewing for a job , make sure you know the vesting schedule , especially if it is promoted by the employer as a significant benefit . If you leave too soon , it could become basically worthless 