by KYW's Salil Gutt

Over the course of a career we accumulate different types of retirement accounts. The result is a ton of paper at retirement and a sense of being overwhelmed by all of the various investment accounts. I see this repeatedly.  Here's what to do about this mess. 

Consolidate them all in a single rollover IRA account at one firm. Ideally pick an investments firm that does not charge an annual IRA fee, offers you a wide choice of commission free mutual funds and has a good discount brokerage operation.

The best thing to do is to make an appointment and visit the local office. Take the most recent account statements with you. The paperwork to consolidate is not complicated.

Alternatively, get help with a representative at the 800 number for the firm.

I suggest you not do consolidation on line if you are not tech savvy. 

Besides simplification, the biggest advantage of consolidation is you can spot weaknesses in your portfolio.  With everything under one roof, you can look at the big picture easily to see if you are properly diversified.