How to Transfer a Roth IRA from Fidelity to Wells Fargo Advisors

Retirement planning often involves making adjustments to ensure your investments continue to align with your financial goals. If you’re considering moving your Roth IRA from Fidelity to Wells Fargo Advisors, whether for a different investment approach, personalized financial services, or broader portfolio options, it’s important to understand the steps involved.

A direct transfer between financial institutions allows you to relocate your retirement savings while preserving their tax-advantaged status and avoiding unnecessary penalties. This guide walks you through the process to help ensure a smooth and efficient transition.

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. 

Step 1: Understand Your Roth IRA Transfer Landscape

Transferring a Roth IRA from Fidelity to Wells Fargo Advisors is a straightforward process when approached carefully. The key is maintaining the tax-advantaged status of your retirement funds through a direct, trustee-to-trustee transfer. This ensures your money moves directly between institutions without passing through your personal accounts.

What You’ll Need:

✅ Fidelity Roth IRA account number

✅ Wells Fargo Advisors account information

✅ Government-issued photo ID

✅ Most recent Roth IRA statement

✅ Personal contact information

Step 2: Open a Roth IRA with Wells Fargo Advisors

Before initiating the transfer, contact Wells Fargo Advisors and open a new Roth IRA account. Their financial advisors can guide you through the account setup process. During this conversation, specifically request a direct transfer of your existing Roth IRA funds.

📝 Pro tip: Confirm all transfer details with a Wells Fargo Advisors representative to ensure smooth processing.

Step 3: Initiate the Transfer Request

Start the transfer by contacting Wells Fargo Advisors through their platform. You will need to provide your Fidelity account details and authorize the transfer.

Most transfers are processed through the Automated Customer Account Transfer Service (ACATS) and take approximately 3–5 business days.

Step 4: Understand Potential Transfer Limitations

Certain assets may not transfer directly:

📝 Reminder: Always check with both Fidelity and Wells Fargo Advisors regarding specific transferability of your current holdings.

Step 5: Verify Transfer Completion

After initiating the transfer, monitor both your Fidelity and Wells Fargo accounts. Confirmation typically arrives via:

Step 6: Tax Considerations

A direct trustee-to-trustee Roth IRA transfer does not trigger taxable events. However, ensure that:

✅Transfer occurs within 60 days

✅No additional contributions exceed annual limits

✅Maintain proper documentation

Step 7: Understanding Potential Fees

While most Roth IRA transfers are free, it’s important to confirm:

Step 8: Final Verification

Once the transfer is complete:

✅ Confirm the transferred balance matches your original account
✅ Update beneficiary designations if necessary
✅ Review and realign your investment allocations as needed

📌 Related Resources:

Wrapping Up Your Roth IRA Transfer Journey

Transferring your Roth IRA from Fidelity to Wells Fargo Advisors doesn’t have to be complicated. The most important takeaway is to use a direct trustee-to-trustee transfer to preserve your account’s tax-advantaged status. Most transfers complete within 3–5 business days, and it’s important to maintain thorough documentation throughout.

Key points to keep in mind:

✅ Always initiate a direct transfer between custodians
✅ Verify your total account balance after the transfer
✅ Ensure the transfer is completed within 60 days to avoid any potential tax issues

Next steps include confirming the transfer’s completion, updating your beneficiary information if needed, and reviewing your investment allocations to ensure they remain aligned with your long-term financial goals.

📌 Want to dive deeper? Here are some other helpful resources:

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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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