Seated woman with a man standing over her shoulder, looking at account transfer paperwork in their living room.

Transfer your account

Do you have accounts across multiple financial institutions? You can treat yourself to the benefits of consolidation by transferring your assets to one location.

Learn how to transfer

What is a transfer?

A transfer is moving money from one account into another. At Vanguard, you can do 2 types of transfers:

External transfers: Asset movements between an IRA or nonretirement account held at another company into a new or existing investment account at Vanguard.

Internal transfers: Asset movements between your Vanguard accounts. Visit our internal transfers page to learn more.

Looking to bring over your 401(k) or 403(b) instead? Visit our rollover page to see how you can easily move your employer plan to Vanguard.

Transfer an IRA

You can continue to have your retirement assets grow in a tax-advantaged account. Move your traditional, SEP-, inherited, or Roth IRA from another company to Vanguard.

Transfer a nonretirement account

You can explore the wide variety of mutual funds and ETFs (exchange-traded funds) we offer. Move your taxable investing account, such as a general investing account or a trust account, to Vanguard.

Transfer a custodial account (UGMA/UTMA)

You can choose from a variety of funds when you move your custodial UGMA/UTMA account to Vanguard.

Not sure how to transfer your assets?

Most account transfers are convenient to do online. Follow the 3 easy steps in our guide to learn more about account transfers and get started.

Learn how

Why choose Vanguard?

View your assets under one login

Make it easier to keep your portfolio balanced and diversified when you consolidate with one company that offers a broad range of investment choices.

Know that we put you first

We’re unique. Our 50 million investors own the funds that own our company, so your goals are our goals.*

Easily share with loved ones

Keep your family more informed and protect your heirs from a financial scavenger hunt.

Save on taxes and fees

Vanguard doesn’t charge fees for you to transfer to us. We also transfer in kind, which means the transfer won't be a taxable event since you aren’t buying or selling any investments.

Ready to get started?

New to Vanguard and looking to consolidate your savings?

Open and transfer accounts

Already a Vanguard client? Log in and start your transfer.

Log in

Ready to get started?

New to Vanguard or looking to consolidate your savings?

Open an account

Already a Vanguard client? Log in and start your transfer.

Log in

Frequently asked questions

A rollover is moving your assets from an employer-sponsored plan—like a 401(k) plan, 403(b) plan, or more—to an individual retirement account (IRA).

An investment account transfer moves your financial assets from an existing external account or Vanguard account to another. Vanguard accepts transfers from most IRAs, individual and joint nonretirement accounts, trusts, and custodial accounts (such as UGMA/UTMAs).

Completion times vary depending on the type of transfer, your account details, and the company holding your account. Some transfers can take 4 to 6 weeks, but your wait could be shorter. You'll get a more accurate estimate when you start your transfer online.

A $100 processing fee may be charged for each account closure or transfer of account assets to another firm for clients who hold less than $5 million in qualifying assets. Other companies may also charge a transfer fee. Check with the company currently holding the account to find out if it has any transfer fees or requirements.

You can transfer the following types of accounts to Vanguard online:

  • Most IRAs, including Roth, traditional, and SEP-IRAs.
  • Individual and joint accounts.
  • Uniform Gifts/Transfers to Minors Act (UGMA/UTMA) accounts.

When you transfer "in kind," you simply move your investments to us "as is." There's no selling or buying involved and no tax consequences either. Vanguard receives your investments at the market value on the date of the transfer. An in-kind transfer is one of the quickest and easiest ways to move an account.

Investments you can transfer in kind include:

  • Stocks.
  • Bonds.
  • Most options.
  • Exchange-traded funds (ETFs).
  • Unit investment trusts.
  • Certificates of deposit (CDs) held in a brokerage account.
  • Most mutual funds (although money market funds will be sold and transferred as cash).**

 

Investments you can't transfer in kind include:

  • CDs held directly with a bank.
  • Certain options.
  • Cryptocurrencies.
  • Limited partnerships and private placements.
  • Certain mutual funds and other investment products offered exclusively by your current firm.
  • Certain low-priced securities traded over the counter (OTC) or on the pink sheets market.
  • Commodities.
  • Annuities.
  • Life insurance policies.
  • Certain certificates.

After your transfer is complete, your assets may not immediately appear. This is a common occurrence and isn’t a cause for concern.

At Vanguard, settlement fund refers to the sweep program option used to pay for and receive proceeds from trades. VBS' sweep program automatically transfers (“sweeps”) any uninvested funds, such as new deposits or the proceeds from securities transactions, into a money market fund or bank product sweep option. Funds are swept out to pay for transactions.

If you hold your own security certificates, you can register them in Street name with Vanguard by endorsing the certificates.

How to endorse your stock and bond certificates

Be sure to write your Vanguard Brokerage Account number on the front of the certificates in the upper-right corner.

Send your endorsed certificates by registered or certified mail to:

Vanguard Brokerage Services
5951 Luckett Court, Suite A1
El Paso, TX 79932-1882

If we receive security certificates (from you or a third party) that haven't been endorsed, you can register them in street name by completing an Irrevocable Stock or Bond Power Form for each security issuer. You can also call us at 833-469-1966 to request this form.

Important: If the registration on your security certificates doesn't match the registration on your brokerage account, you'll need to provide additional documentation. Certificates that require corporate action processing should be directed to the company's Transfer Agent prior to transfer to Vanguard. If you need assistance or have questions, please contact Vanguard.

Street name

A brokerage term for securities held in the name of the broker, rather than in the name of the person who purchased them. This is a routine practice that allows trading to take place in a matter of minutes. Traditionally when you hold securities in your name, you have to keep them in a safe place and mail or hand deliver them to your broker whenever you want to sell them. But if you register them in street name, even though the name on the certificate is not yours, you're still the real owner and have all the rights associated with that ownership.

A Medallion signature guarantee is a type of legally binding endorsement that ensures that your signature is genuine, and that the financial company issuing the guarantee accepts liability for any forgery.

You may need a Medallion signature guarantee when:

  • You're transferring or selling securities.
  • You're transferring a joint account to an individual account.
  • Your name on your Vanguard Brokerage Account isn't identical to the name that's registered with the company currently holding your accounts.

A signature guarantee can usually be obtained free of charge from an officer of a bank, a trust company, or a member firm of the U.S. stock exchange.

Note: A notary public can't provide a Medallion signature guarantee.

Explore professional advice

We offer expert help at the low cost you'd expect from Vanguard.

Compare advice options

All investing is subject to risk, including the possible loss of the money you invest. Diversification does not ensure a profit or protect against a loss.

*Vanguard is investor-owned, meaning the fund shareholders own the funds, which in turn own Vanguard.

There are important factors to consider when transferring assets. 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, and required minimum distributions.

Vanguard's advice services are provided by Vanguard Advisers, Inc. ("VAI"), a registered investment advisor, or by Vanguard National Trust Company ("VNTC"), a federally chartered, limited-purpose trust company.

The services provided to clients will vary based upon the service selected, including management, fees, eligibility, and access to an advisor. Find VAI's Form CRS and each program's advisory brochure here for an overview.

VAI and VNTC are subsidiaries of The Vanguard Group, Inc., and affiliates of Vanguard Marketing Corporation. Neither VAI, VNTC, nor its affiliates guarantee profits or protection from losses.