As your financial strategy evolves, it’s important to ensure your retirement accounts align with your investment goals. If you’re seeking broader investment choices, advanced trading tools, or a different fee structure, transferring your Roth IRA may be a smart move.
A direct transfer from Fidelity to Interactive Brokers allows you to move your Roth IRA securely while preserving its tax-advantaged status. 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.
At Carry, we want to make financial decisions feel more manageable, even if you’re handling them outside our platform. Please note that while we try to provide the most up-to-date information, these processes are subject to change without notice, so be sure to check with your provider before moving forward.
The Roth IRA Handbook
Everything you need to know about investing and managing a Roth IRA
Step 1: Understand Your Roth IRA Transfer Basics
A Roth IRA transfer between Fidelity and Interactive Brokers is a direct process that allows you to move your retirement funds without triggering taxes or penalties. The key is executing a trustee-to-trustee transfer, which preserves your account’s tax-advantaged status.
Step 2: Prepare Your Existing Fidelity Account
Before initiating the transfer, review your current Roth IRA’s holdings. Some investments might require liquidation before moving, especially proprietary mutual funds that can’t transfer in-kind.
✅ Your current Fidelity Roth IRA account number
✅ Most recent account statement
✅ Social Security number
✅ Interactive Brokers account information
✅ Verification of investment types in current account
📝 Tip: Certain investments, such as proprietary mutual funds, may require liquidation prior to transfer.
Step 3: Open an Interactive Brokers Roth IRA
Open a new Roth IRA with Interactive Brokers. This step ensures you have a destination account ready for the transfer. Most investors complete this online through Interactive Brokers’ website typically within 15-20 minutes.
📝 Reminder: Ensure the new account type matches your existing Roth IRA designation to prevent transfer issues.
Step 4: Choose Your Transfer Method
Initiate the transfer through Interactive Brokers to streamline the process and reduce potential complications. You’ll want to use their Automated Customer Account Transfer Service (ACATS), which handles electronic transfers between financial institutions. This method typically completes within 3-5 business days.
Step 5: Gather Required Documentation
Before submitting the transfer request, collect:
✅ Government-issued photo ID
✅ Most recent Fidelity Roth IRA statement
✅ Interactive Brokers account confirmation
✅ Completed transfer authorization form
Step 6: Understand Potential Transfer Limitations
Not all investments transfer seamlessly. Proprietary funds, specific mutual funds, or unique securities might require liquidation before transfer.
✏️ Hypothetical Example: If your Fidelity Roth IRA contains Fidelity-specific mutual funds, you’ll need to sell these before transferring to Interactive Brokers.
Step 7: Monitor Transfer Timeline
The entire transfer process typically takes 5-7 business days. During this period, avoid making trades or contributions to prevent transfer delays.
📝 Important: Do not close your Fidelity account until the transfer is confirmed complete to maintain continuous retirement account status.
Step 8: Verify Final Transfer Completion
Once transferred, review your new Interactive Brokers Roth IRA to confirm:
✅ Total account balance matches previous statement
✅ All intended investments have transferred correctly
✅ No unexpected fees or charges appear
📌 If you need any additional guidance, be sure to check out these related articles:
Wrapping Up Your Roth IRA Transfer Journey
Transferring your Roth IRA from Fidelity to Interactive Brokers is a straightforward process when handled carefully. The key points to keep in mind are:
✅ Initiate a direct trustee-to-trustee transfer to preserve your account’s tax-advantaged status
✅ Ensure all required documentation is accurate and complete
✅ Prepare for the possibility that certain investments may need to be liquidated if they cannot transfer in-kind
Additional Next steps:
✅ Follow the transfer process closely through Interactive Brokers
✅ Monitor the timeline, as most transfers complete within 3–5 business days
✅ Avoid making trades or changes to your account during the transfer period
✅ Verify that all assets move correctly and match your original account balance
Taking a proactive approach at each step will help ensure your retirement savings continue to grow uninterrupted.
📌 Want to dive deeper? Here are some other helpful (and free) resources:
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.
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