Transferring Your Brokerage Account:
Tips on Avoiding Delays
Many investors transfer their accounts from one brokerage firm to another without a hitch. If
your transfer goes smoothly, count on the whole process taking two to
three weeks. But this time frame may vary depending upon such factors
as the assets involved, the types of accounts, and the institutions
between which the transfer occurs.
Transfers may be delayed if:
- the wrong transfer form is used;
- the transfer form has been incorrectly completed;
- the transfer involves a request to liquidate some or all of your assets;
- the transfer includes a margin account;
- the transfer is from one type of account into a different type of account;
- a change in the account owner is made; or
- the transfer involves a retirement account.
This document walks you through the transfer process and provides tips on how to avoid problems.
Use the Right Form
Use the correct form to
ensure your transfer goes smoothly. Some firms allow you to use one
form for all account transfers while others have different forms
depending on the type of account you are transferring (for example, an
IRA account or a margin account). To get the right form, call the new
firm where you want to transfer your account or visit its Web site.
Review the Form Carefully
As you start filling in
the transfer form, review the account statement from your old firm
where your account is held. All firms require you to attach a copy of
your most recent account statement to the transfer form.
The form usually asks for
the name on your account, the type of account you want to transfer,
account number, the firm where the account is held, and your social
security or tax identification number. Be sure you provide this
information exactly as it appears on your old account. For instance, if
your middle name or initial appears on your old account, you may run
into delays if you forget to include it. When transferring only some of
the securities in your account, carefully list the securities you want
to transfer on the form.
The easiest way to
transfer your account is to keep the type of accounts the same (joint
account transfers to joint account; IRA to IRA) and account owner the
same. You can change account type or ownership at the time of the
transfer, but this may delay the transfer. You may need to provide
documents proving changes to ownership, such as a marriage certificate,
divorce decree, or death certificate.
If you have questions
about how to complete the form, contact the new firm for help. Once
completed, keep a copy of the form for your records.
Understand the Transfer Process
All transfers start and end with your new firm, but your old firm needs to take action too.
Electronic Transfers
Most account transfers
between brokerage firms are made using the Automated Customer Account
Transfer Service (or "ACATS") system. The National Securities Clearing
Corporation operates ACATS, and both the New York Stock Exchange and
the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. require their
member firms to use ACATS.
These rules require firms
to complete various stages of the transfer process within a limited
period of time. If the transfer is made through ACATS, and there are no
problems, the transfer should take no more than six business days to
complete from the time your new firm enters your form into ACATS.
During this time, your
old firm compares the information you provided on the transfer form
with its information. If the information matches, your old and new
firms review the transferable assets. If the transfer includes a margin
account, the new firm also examines the account to see whether the
account meets the firm's margin standards. Firms may have different
margin standards about how much they will lend you to trade. While the
transfer is in progress, your account may be "frozen" for part of the
time. If this occurs, you may be unable to trade. Check with both your
old and new firms if you want to trade during the transfer process.
Under the "ACATS for
Banks" program initiated by DTCC in February 1999, banks may
voluntarily participate in ACATS. If a bank participates in the
program, then a transfer from the participating bank to a brokerage
firm or vice a versa should occur in the standard ACATS time frame of
six business days. If you are transferring your account to or from a
bank you should ask whether the bank participates in the "ACATS for
Banks" program.
Be aware that delays may
occur when you transfer a retirement account. Because retirement
accounts require a financial institution, such as a bank, to act as the
custodian or holder of the account, you must have a custodial
arrangement in place at your new financial institution before the
transfer can occur. A delay may happen if you have not paid the
maintenance fee to the old custodian or the new custodian does not
allow a security in the retirement account to be transferred. Once
everything is in place, the transfer can be made through ACATS.
Manual Transfers
Sometimes, a transfer
is made manually. This occurs when your assets are with a bank, mutual
fund, credit union, insurance company, or limited partnership that does
not participate in ACATS. This also may occur if you request a
liquidation of assets other than the standard money market fund in your
account. There are no set time frames for completing a manual transfer
with these financial institutions. For that reason - and the potential
risk of market volatility should there be any delay - you may not want
to liquidate any assets via instructions on the transfer form.
Monitor Your Transfer
Since both the old and
new firms must act to complete the transfer, stay in touch with both of
them. Make sure the new firm has received your transfer form. If you
sent the form to a branch office, it may take a few days before it is
received at the firm's headquarters for processing.
You may also want to ask
the old firm whether it has received the transfer request. If the
transfer goes through ACATS, the old firm has three business days from
the time it receives the transfer form to decide if it is going to
complete or reject the transfer. If the assets in an account can be
transferred through ACATS, a firm can reject a transfer request only if
the form has been completed incorrectly or there is a question about
the ownership of the account or the number of shares. Ask the firm
whether it will transfer your account or if there is a problem with
your instructions. If there is a problem, ask for an explanation and
how to correct it.
If the old firm takes no
action on the request or a problem is not resolved within six business
days, the transfer request is purged (or deleted) from ACATS. If that
happens, the new firm must start over by again inputting the transfer
request into ACATS.
Know Which Securities May Not Transfer
Some types of securities may not be transferred. These securities include:
- securities sold exclusively by your old firm;
- mutual funds or money market funds not available at the new firm;
- limited partnerships that are private placements;
- annuities; or
- bankrupt securities.
If your request includes
some of these non-transferable securities, it may take longer to
complete a transfer. Your old firm is required to transfer whatever
securities or assets it can through ACATS and ask you what you want to
do with the others. You generally have two choices: either sell the
non-transferable security and transfer the cash, or leave the security
with your old firm. Sometimes, you may be able to take possession of
the security itself. Taking possession of a security may pose risks,
such as the security could be stolen. Also, it may not be advisable for
retirement plans.
Keep These Final Thoughts in Mind
Your old firm may
charge you a fee for the transfer to cover administrative costs.
Sometimes, the new firm will also charge a fee. These fees are
typically spelled out in your account agreements with the firms.
Expect delays in
receiving dividends, interest, and proceeds from sales of securities.
They often arrive at your old firm after the transfer has taken place.
Your old firm is required to transfer them to you at your new firm —
within ten business days of receipts — for at least six months after
the account transfer is completed.
If you feel like your
account has not been transferred in a timely fashion, ask to speak to
the compliance director at your old or new firm. If you are not
satisfied, contact the New York Stock Exchange or the FINRA, depending on where your brokerage firm is a member.
Finally, Ask Questions!
A simple error could significantly delay the transfer. Be certain your
old and new firms have the information they need to make the transfer
happen in a timely fashion.
http://www.sec.gov/investor/pubs/acctxfer.htm