Follow these 3 easy steps
Step 1
Select an eligible Vanguard IRA for your rollover*
- If you're rolling over pre-tax assets, you'll need a rollover IRA or a traditional IRA.
- If you're rolling over Roth (after-tax) assets, you'll need a Roth IRA.
- If you're rolling over both types of assets, you'll need two separate IRAs.
Note: You can roll over your assets to a new or an existing Vanguard account.
Step 2
Contact the financial institution holding your employer plan
Tell them you want to make a direct rollover from your employer plan to your Vanguard IRA®, and ask what information they need
Need a letter of acceptance?
You'll be able to create and print a letter of acceptance during our online rollover process.
Note: You may not be eligible to roll over a plan account that you're still contributing to.
Questions to ask
What types of assets do I have in my employer plan account?
Knowing whether you have pre-tax or Roth (after-tax) assets will help you figure out what type of IRA (traditional, Roth, or both) you need to open at Vanguard. If you own company stock in your plan, that may add a layer of complexity to your rollover.
What name did I use on my employer plan account?
A common situation that can delay a rollover is when a check from the current financial institution is made payable to a name that doesn't match your Vanguard account registration. Examples include use of birth name versus married name, a missing suffix (Jr., Sr., etc.), differing middle initials (John A. Doe versus John J. Doe), etc.
What are your rollover requirements?
Each employer plan will have its own rollover requirements. Some may have their own paperwork for you to fill out, while others may require a Medallion signature guarantee or additional signatures that need to be notarized. Occasionally, the plan administrator may also have to sign off on the rollover.
Are e-signatures or faxed copies allowed?
Some plans allow e-signatures and copies of paperwork. Others may require original paperwork with your original signature.
Do you need a letter of acceptance (LOA)?
Plan administrators often require an LOA from the receiving institution. This letter indicates that the receiving institution—Vanguard in this case—will accept the assets. It also lets the plan administrator know where to send your money. You can generate an LOA during our online rollover process.
Is spousal consent required?
Some plans may require a spouse to provide their signature in order to move the assets to an IRA.
Will the rollover check be sent to me or to Vanguard?
We’ll accept a check from the plan or from you. Just make sure the appropriate mailing guidelines, covered in the next step, are followed to avoid any processing delays.
If the check is sent directly to you and you're already a Vanguard client with online access, consider using our mobile check investment service offered through the Vanguard app.
Step 3
Deposit the money into your Vanguard account
Rollovers typically take 2-4 weeks to complete. In many cases, the amount will be sent directly to us. However, if you receive a check from the financial institution, here is what to do
Note: Once we receive your assets, we'll place them in the settlement fund in your new or existing IRA.
How to deposit your rollover check
- If the check is made payable to Vanguard, don’t endorse it. Just make sure it includes your Vanguard account number before mailing it to us.
- If the check is made payable to you, endorse it, make sure it includes your Vanguard account number, and mail it to us within 60 days.
By U.S. mail:
Vanguard
P.O. Box 982901
El Paso, TX 79998-2901
By FedEx, UPS, and other couriers:
Vanguard
5951 Luckett Court, Suite A1
El Paso, TX 79932-1882
How to invest your assets
Ready to get started?
New to Vanguard and looking to consolidate your savings?
Already a Vanguard client? Log in to roll over your employer plan.
Ready to get started?
New to Vanguard and looking to consolidate your savings?
Already a Vanguard client? Log in to roll over your employer plan.
Still need help? Consider our advice services
*There are important factors to consider when rolling over assets to an IRA or leaving assets in an employer-sponsored plan account. These factors include, but are not limited to, investment options in each type of account, fees and expenses, available services, potential withdrawal penalties, protection from creditors and legal judgments, required minimum distributions, and the tax consequences of rolling over employer stock to an IRA. Please consult a qualified tax advisor about your individual situation.
All investing is subject to risk, including the possible loss of the money you invest.
Be sure to consider all of the available options and the applicable fees and features of each option, (stay with your former employer plan, rollover to a new employer plan, roll over to an IRA or cash out) before moving your retirement assets.
You must buy and sell Vanguard ETF Shares through Vanguard Brokerage Services (we offer them commission-free) or through another broker (which may charge commissions). See the Vanguard Brokerage Services commission and fee schedules for full details. Vanguard ETF Shares are not redeemable directly with the issuing fund other than in very large aggregations worth millions of dollars. ETFs are subject to market volatility. When buying or selling an ETF, you will pay or receive the current market price, which may be more or less than net asset value.
Vanguard Personal Advisor Services and Vanguard Digital Advisor's services are provided by Vanguard Advisers, Inc. ("VAI"), a federally registered investment advisor. VAI is a subsidiary of The Vanguard Group, Inc. ("VGI"), and an affiliate of Vanguard Marketing Corporation. Neither VGI, VAI, nor its affiliates guarantee profits or protection from losses. For more information on the services, see Form CRS and the Vanguard Personal Advisor Services Brochure (PDF) and Form CRS and the Vanguard Digital Advisor Brochure (PDF).