Moving your retirement savings between providers might seem tricky to figure out, but it generally only takes a few steps. Whether you’re changing investment strategies, seeking better portfolio options, or consolidating your retirement accounts, transferring your IRA from Betterment to Fidelity is a straightforward process.

At Carry, we want to make financial decisions feel more manageable — even if you’re handling them outside our platform. This guide breaks down what you need to know to move your IRA confidently, avoid any tax hiccups, and stay on track with your long-term goals

Table of contents

Quick Transfer Checklist

We’ll go through each of these steps in more detail below, but having this checklist in mind will give you a clear sense of what to expect when moving your IRA from Betterment to Fidelity:

  • Know what type of IRA you have (Traditional or Roth)
  • Make sure your Fidelity account is open
  • Gather your Social Security number, ID, and account statements
  • Log into Betterment and request a direct transfer to Fidelity
  • Monitor the transfer timeline (typically 5–10 business days)
  • Confirm balances once the transfer is complete
  • Update your beneficiary info if needed

Step 1: Get Organized

Before you initiate the transfer, it’s helpful to gather a few details:

  • Confirm whether your IRA is a Traditional or Roth IRA (they’re handled slightly differently)
  • Check your current balance and review your investment holdings
  • Make sure your Fidelity account is open (if not, you’ll want to set that up first)

✏️ Quick Hypothetical Scenario: Sarah is 35 and works in marketing. She has a retirement account with Betterment, but she wants to keep all her investments in one place and have more choices for where her money goes. So, she decides to move her IRA over to Fidelity. 

Step 2: Choose a Direct Transfer

Direct transfers provide the safest and most straightforward method for moving your IRA. This process involves a direct trustee-to-trustee transfer, which means Betterment will send your funds directly to Fidelity without you taking possession of the money.

Steps to initiate a direct transfer:

✅ Log into your Betterment account

✅ Navigate to the Transfer section

✅ Select “Rollover” or “Transfer Out” option

✅ Choose Fidelity as your destination provider

✅ Complete any required digital transfer paperwork

Step 3: Get Your Details Ready

To keep things moving smoothly, it helps to have the following on hand:

  • Social Security number
  • Current IRA account statements
  • Government-issued photo ID
  • Fidelity account number
  • Betterment account login credentials
    Step 4: Initiate the Transfer (and What to Expect)

⏱️ Timeline

Transfers can typically take 5–10 business days to process. If any manual steps are needed, it could take up to two weeks.

💸 Fees & Costs

  • Betterment charges a flat $75 transfer fee per investing account
  • Fidelity does not charge for incoming IRA transfers
  • Direct transfers are non-taxable and don’t count as distributions

⚠️ A few considerations:

  • Some investments may need to be sold before the transfer, which could result in a short period of being out of the market
  • If you’re mid-strategy (e.g. dollar-cost averaging), consider timing the transfer carefully

Step 5: After the Transfer

Once the transfer is complete, you’ll want to:

✅ Confirm the transaction with both Betterment and Fidelity

✅ Make sure the full balance has transferred over

✅ Double-check that any intended investments are reflected accurately

✅ Review and update your beneficiaries if needed

Final Takeaways

Ok, there you have it! Transferring your IRA from Betterment to Fidelity might seem a bit technical at first, but with a direct transfer and the steps outlined in this guide, things should feel a lot more doable.

Disclaimer:

The Carry Learning Center is operated by The Vibes Company Inc. (“Vibes”) and contains generalized educational content about personal finance topics. While Vibes provides educational content and technology services, all investment advisory services discussed on this website are provided exclusively through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Carry Advisors LLC (“Carry Advisors”), an SEC registered investment adviser. The information contained on the Carry Learning Center should not be construed as personalized investment advice and should not be considered as a solicitation to buy or sell any security or engage in a particular investment, accounting, tax or legal strategy. Vibes is not providing tax, legal, accounting, or investment advice. You should consult with qualified tax, legal, accounting, and investment professionals regarding your specific situation.

The accounts, strategies and/or investments discussed in this material may not be suitable for all investors. All investments involve the risk of loss, and past performance does not guarantee future results. Investment growth or profit is never a guarantee. All statements and opinions included on the Carry Learning Center are intended to be current as of the date of publication but are subject to change without notice.

To access investment advisory services through Carry Advisors, you must be a client of Vibes on an eligible membership plan. For more information about Carry Advisors’ investment advisory services, please see our Form ADV Part 2A brochure and Form CRS or through the SEC’s website at www.adviserinfo.sec.gov.