Rollover comparison
T. Rowe Price → Fidelity 401(k) rollover
If you're rolling a 401(k) FROM T. Rowe Price TO Fidelity, here are the practical mechanics: what forms you'll fill out, how long it takes, whether ACATS is supported, and what specific gotchas to watch for at each custodian. This page documents the process; it does not recommend one custodian over the other.
Side-by-side
| Field | T. Rowe Price | Fidelity |
|---|---|---|
| ACATS eligibility | ACATS (electronic) eligible — typical processing 3–5 business days | ACATS (electronic) eligible — typical processing 3–5 business days |
| Processing time | 5-7 business days (ACATS if available); 10-14 days for paper | 3-5 business days (ACATS); 7-10 days for paper |
| Transfer form | 401(k) Distribution / Rollover Election (online or form) | Transfer of Assets (TOA) request — initiated at receiving institution |
| Customer-service phone | 1-800-922-9945 (Retirement Plan Services); 1-800-225-5132 (Personal Investor) | 1-800-343-3548 |
| Customer-service hours | Mon-Fri 7am-10pm ET | Mon-Fri 7am-11pm ET, Sat-Sun 9am-5pm ET |
Known pitfalls at T. Rowe Price
Warning: Two different sides of T. Rowe Price — 'Retirement Plan Services' (employer 401(k)) and 'Personal Investor' (brokerage / IRA). The phone numbers and forms are DIFFERENT. Find your account on your statement to know which side you're on.
Warning: T. Rowe Price will often let you complete the rollover entirely online if your destination custodian is on their preferred network (Fidelity, Vanguard, Schwab, E*TRADE). Try the online wizard first — saves a week vs paper.
Warning: If you have employer match still vesting at the time of distribution, T. Rowe will forfeit the unvested portion. Confirm your vested balance in the participant portal BEFORE you initiate — sometimes waiting a few weeks vests another tranche.
Known pitfalls at Fidelity
Warning: Fidelity defaults to mailing a paper check if you initiate the transfer FROM their side — call the receiving custodian first to initiate an ACATS pull instead.
Warning: If you have employer stock in the 401(k) (NUA-eligible), do NOT roll it directly — separate the basis cost first or you lose the NUA tax treatment forever.
Warning: Fidelity will ask whether to sell your holdings and transfer cash, OR move them as-is (the industry term is "in-kind"). Moving as-is only works if the destination custodian supports the same funds; otherwise it sells your holdings and transfers cash (the default).
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Start my free previewFrequently asked questions
- How long does a T. Rowe Price to Fidelity 401(k) rollover take?
- Both T. Rowe Price and Fidelity support ACATS electronic transfers. Initiate the transfer from the Fidelity side (not T. Rowe Price) to trigger an ACATS pull — assets typically arrive in 3–7 business days. Add 1–3 days for the destination to process and invest. Total: approximately 5–10 business days from the date you submit the transfer request.
- Do I call T. Rowe Price or Fidelity first to start the rollover?
- Call or log in to Fidelity first. For ACATS-eligible transfers, the receiving institution initiates the pull — Fidelity sends a request to T. Rowe Price electronically, and T. Rowe Price releases the assets. Starting at the destination is faster and avoids T. Rowe Price defaulting to mailing a check.
- Will I owe taxes when rolling over from T. Rowe Price to Fidelity?
- A direct trustee-to-trustee rollover from a traditional 401(k) to a traditional IRA or new 401(k) is NOT a taxable event — provided funds move custodian-to-custodian and are never paid to you personally. No federal or state income tax, no 10% early-withdrawal penalty. If you're rolling into a Roth IRA (conversion), the pre-tax balance does become taxable income for the year of conversion — that's a deliberate tax election, not a mistake. Request "direct rollover" language explicitly with T. Rowe Price so the 1099-R is coded Box 7 = G (direct rollover) rather than Box 7 = 1 or 2 (distribution), which would incorrectly trigger withholding and IRS scrutiny.
- Does T. Rowe Price charge a fee to roll over my 401(k)?
- Most employer 401(k) plans administered by T. Rowe Price do not charge an outbound rollover fee, but some employer plan documents do include a distribution or processing fee ($25–$75 is common). Check your Summary Plan Description (the document your former employer sent when you joined the plan) — the fee schedule is in there — or ask the T. Rowe Price rep when you call (1-800-922-9945 (Retirement Plan Services); 1-800-225-5132 (Personal Investor)). T. Rowe Price may also liquidate any holdings that can't transfer in-kind before sending, so you could face a brief period out of the market during the transfer.
- What's the 60-day rule for a T. Rowe Price to Fidelity rollover?
- If you received a check made out to you (an indirect rollover), you have exactly 60 calendar days from the date of distribution to deposit the full gross amount — including the 20% the custodian withheld — into a qualifying retirement account. If you initiate a direct trustee-to-trustee transfer instead (the recommended path), the 60-day clock does not apply because you never receive the funds personally. For direct transfers, initiate immediately — T. Rowe Price's processing time is 5-7 business days (ACATS if available); 10-14 days for paper, which can consume a significant portion of your window if you wait.
- Can I roll my T. Rowe Price 401(k) into a Fidelity IRA directly?
- Yes — a direct rollover from a T. Rowe Price 401(k) to a Fidelity traditional IRA is fully legal under IRC §402(c). Fidelity supports ACATS, so the cleanest path is to open the IRA at Fidelity first, then have Fidelity initiate an ACATS pull from T. Rowe Price. The one exception: if your T. Rowe Price 401(k) contains employer stock with significant appreciation, review Net Unrealized Appreciation (NUA) tax treatment with a CPA before rolling — NUA elections must be made at the time of distribution and cannot be undone.
Related
T. Rowe Price info verified 2026-05-15 · Fidelity info verified 2026-05-15. Spot a change? Tell us.
This comparison is informational only — it documents the procedural mechanics of rolling over a 401(k) between T. Rowe Price and Fidelity. nesthelm is not an investment adviser or broker-dealer; we do not recommend either custodian over the other. Consult a CPA or licensed financial advisor for advice on your specific situation.