Moving investment accounts from one provider to another can be complicated. You may be in the early days of mulling over a move. Or maybe you’re ready to make a switch and simply need a little help making it happen.
Wherever you are in the process, we’re here to help. And once you’re ready to act, you can easily start the ball rolling in the Betterment app. The steps vary slightly different depending on your situation and how willing your old provider is to play ball:
- ACATS — Most taxable accounts, and even some retirement accounts, can be transferred automatically by simply connecting your old provider’s account to Betterment. You stay invested, and the entire process often takes less than a week.
- Direct rollover/transfer — Some retirement account providers, meanwhile, require a check be mailed to either you or your new provider. In these cases, we provide step-by-step instructions for reaching out to your old provider to initiate the process, which often takes 3-4 weeks.
And for those considering moves of $20k or more, our Licensed Concierge team can help you size up the decision before helping shepherd your old assets to Betterment, all at no cost. Here’s how.
The Betterment Licensed Concierge experience
Whether you’re already sold on a switch or need help weighing the pros and cons, our Concierge team uses a three-step process to help guide your thinking.
Step 1: Assess where you are, and where you want to be
We start every Concierge conversation by gathering as much information as possible.
- What are your financial goals?
- How well do your old accounts align with those goals?
- How much risk are you exposed to?
- How much are you currently paying in fees?
We sift through statements on your behalf to decode your old provider’s fees. We analyze your old portfolios’ asset allocations. And we help assess whether Betterment’s goal-based platform could help meet your needs.
All of this information gives us and you the context and confidence needed to take the next step.
Step 2: You make a call, then we chart a course forward
While retirement accounts can be rolled over without creating a taxable event, that’s not always the case with taxable accounts. So in those scenarios, we provide a personalized tax-impact and break-even analysis. This shows you how much in capital gains taxes, if any, a move may trigger, and how long it might take to recoup those costs. We always recommend you work with a tax advisor, but our estimate can serve as a great first step in sizing up any tax implications.
Should you choose to bring your old investments to Betterment, we help you with every step of that journey.
The mechanics of moving accounts
This includes sussing out which of your old assets can be moved “in-kind” to Betterment. We’re able to easily accept these assets, and either slot them into your shiney new Betterment portfolio as-is, or sell them on your behalf and reinvest the proceeds.
If any old assets need to be liquidated before they’re transferred, we’ll help you work with your old provider to make it happen. This includes providing you with a full list of relevant assets to give your old provider.
Whether transferring assets or cash, we use the ACATS method whenever possible to help your funds move and settle quicker.
Step 3: Moving day!
Making a move is exciting. Unpacking? Not so much. So we help set up and optimize your Betterment account to make the most of features like Tax Coordination. Need help setting up your goals? We have you covered there, too.
Once everything is in order, we’ll begin implementing your transfer plan. We’ll communicate all the steps involved, the expected timeline, and handle as much of the heavy lifting as possible. We regularly check-in and, once your assets or funds arrive on our end, we’ll send you a confirmation making sure all your transfer-related questions are answered to the best of our abilities.
Ready, set, switch
Moving accounts to a new provider can be a hassle, so we strive to shoulder as much of the burden as possible. It starts with a simple step-by-step process in the Betterment app, and for those exploring moves of $20k or more, extends to our dedicated team of Concierge members. They’re standing ready to help give your old assets a new life at Betterment. Because whether moving to a new house or a new advisor, it never hurts to have a little help.
