My 401k HAS to be moved to a different firm or arrangement

[Ruken]

@Munch

he HAS to move his 401(k) somewhere right now. The only real option for that is an IRA (unless he’d like to pay taxes on the entire amount right now, which is really unlikely).

No, it’s not.

[Ruken]

Right there in the OP:

@PoppaSan

I can leave the money with that firm but be in a different arrangement. I have to check but I think I can roll it into my current employer retirement structure with a different investor.

Rolling one 401k into another is quite common and allows future backdoor Roths without any additional taxes.

[Munch]

That’s fair - not sure why I let that slip my mind. Either way, if the OP desires to convert a large portion to Roth via a back door, having control of those funds in an IRA that allows for greater control, larger selection of investments and (likely) lower fees, an IRA is likely a far better place for those funds. Assuming they aren’t running into contribution limits in their 401k.