Fidelity ACAT Fee
Fidelity does not charge a fee for a full or partial account transfers. This is also true for all types of IRA accounts: traditional IRA, ROTH, SEP, and SIMPLE IRA.
If you decide to close your retirement account, Fidelity does not charge a fee for closing an IRA account.
Learn How to Cancel Your Fidelity Account »
To learn how to transfer your Fidelity Investments account to another broker,
read this article »
Fidelity Wire Transfer Fees
Fidelity charges $10 per wire transfer if you do it online, or $15 if you use a representative.
Incoming wire transfers are free.
How to Transfer a Fidelity Account to Schwab
Do you have an account at Fidelity? Would you like to switch to Charles Schwab? If so, you can easily transfer your entire account to Schwab and start trading there. Here’s how to make the switch:
Fidelity Account Transfer Steps
You can move a brokerage or investment-advisory account from Fidelity to Schwab. If you use Fidelity Go, Fidelity’s automated service, only the cash can be moved to Schwab. Likewise, Schwab’s automated program, Intelligent Portfolios, only accepts cash. These details matter if your transfer involves a robo account on either end.
Step 1: Now that you know what you're moving and which account you're moving it into,
you need to open the receiving account. It’s very simple to open a new investment account at Schwab on
either the broker’s website or its mobile app. Look for the orange button on the website to open a new account, or go into the settings menu on the mobile app (the icon in the upper-left corner) and find the link to open a new account. An existing account will work if it meets these two conditions:
(1) The account types must match (for example, custodial, joint, or IRA).
(2) The account must have the same name.
If either condition isn’t met, you’ll need to open a new account. In some cases, you might be able to change the account type or the name on it.
Step 2: While you’re setting up your Schwab account, go to Fidelity and start preparing your account for the move. If you have an automated account, you must sell everything and convert it to cash. If you have a self-directed account, you don’t need to sell everything, but there could be extra steps.
For example, certain over-the-counter (OTC) stocks might not be accepted at Schwab. While Schwab does allow trading in OTC stocks, some specific ones might not be supported. Options that expire in less than a week and all cryptocurrencies cannot be moved through the Automated Customer Account Transfer Service (ACATS), which we’re using here.
If you can’t move a position for any reason, you have a few choices:
(1) Sell it (liquidate).
(2) Move it to another Fidelity account.
(3) Leave it behind in a partial transfer.
Any cryptocurrencies at Fidelity should be in a separate account. Just don’t include that account in the transfer request.
Fidelity allows trading in foreign stocks, which can be moved via ACATS. However, Schwab may not support all foreign exchanges that Fidelity does. For instance, Greek and Polish stocks can only be sold at Schwab. It’s best to ask Schwab about uncommon foreign stocks before trying to transfer them.
A full-service Wealth Management account at Fidelity can be moved, but there may be assets that Schwab does not support and are only available to Fidelity’s full-service clients.
Step 3: By now, your Schwab account should be open and set up for the transfer. It might also need some adjustments. For example, if you’re transferring options contracts or using margin at Fidelity, those features must be approved at Schwab. Be sure to have the right options level; for example, an account approved for Level I can’t accept an iron butterfly transfer.
Step 4: Now it’s time to officially submit your transfer request. As mentioned, this uses the ACATS network, which is completely electronic. You’ll submit the ACATS request through Schwab, the receiving firm. You can find the online form on Schwab’s website under the Move Money tab by clicking on the Transfer Account link.
On the first page of the form, you must identify the outgoing firm. Schwab lists several companies, including Fidelity. Simply click on Fidelity’s name so the form autofills correctly.
On the next page, enter the account type (be sure it matches exactly) and your Fidelity account number. Then decide if you want a full or partial transfer. A partial transfer leaves the Fidelity account open, and you can pick which holdings to move. You may also transfer only part of your cash. You can move up to 70 positions in a single partial transfer. A full transfer moves everything and shuts down the account.
Continue through the next pages, providing all requested details. Check everything at the end, and submit the ACATS request if it all looks right. Once Schwab gets the transfer form, it will alert Fidelity, and they’ll handle the rest.
Step 5: Finally, track the progress of your transfer request. Under the Move Money tab on Schwab’s site, there is a ‘Recent Transfer Activity’ link. Schwab keeps a record of transfer activity here for up to three months. If you spot any issues, contact Schwab.
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Updated on 2/7/2025.
Chad Morris is a financial writer with more than 20 years experience
as both an English teacher and an avid trader. When he isn’t writing
expert content for Brokerage-Review.com, Chad can usually be found
managing his portfolio or building a new home computer.
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