Rollover comparison
Vanguard → Charles Schwab 401(k) rollover
If you're rolling a 401(k) FROM Vanguard TO Charles Schwab, 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 | Vanguard | Charles Schwab |
|---|---|---|
| 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); 2-3 weeks for paper | 3-5 business days (ACATS); 7-10 days for paper |
| Transfer form | Move money in — Direct rollover (online wizard) | Transfer/Rollover Request form (online or paper) |
| Customer-service phone | 1-800-523-1188 (Personal Investor) / 1-800-523-1036 (Small Business 401(k)) | 1-800-435-4000 |
| Customer-service hours | Mon-Fri 8am-8pm ET | 24/7 |
Known pitfalls at Vanguard
Warning: Vanguard's outbound-transfer form is at 'Profile & account settings → Move money out → To another firm'. It's easy to miss — they bury it deeper than other custodians.
Warning: If your 401(k) is at Vanguard Retirement Plan Services (employer plan), the path is different — log into Vanguard.com/retirementplans, not my.vanguard.com.
Warning: Vanguard requires a Medallion Signature Guarantee for transfers over $100K (NOT a notary — a Medallion stamp, typically from a bank you have a relationship with). Get this in person before you start; finding a Medallion provider can take a couple days.
Known pitfalls at Charles Schwab
Warning: Schwab acquired TD Ameritrade in 2023 and completed the platform migration in 2024 — if your old plan was at TDA, it's now on the Schwab platform with a NEW Schwab-format account number. Use the new number for ACATS, not the legacy 9-digit TDA number; statements after September 2023 show the new number in the header.
Warning: Schwab will offer to 'help you decide where to roll it' before processing — this is a sales pitch for Schwab IRA. Decline politely if you've already picked a destination. The rep will sometimes pass the call to a Schwab Financial Consultant; you can decline that hand-off too without slowing down the transfer.
Warning: If transferring TO Schwab as the destination, their online wizard is excellent. If transferring FROM Schwab to another custodian, initiate from the receiving side (don't fill out Schwab's outbound paper form — slower). The receiving side's ACATS pull is processed by Schwab's transfer desk within 1-2 business days.
Warning: Schwab won't transfer fractional shares of non-Schwab mutual funds via ACATS — they liquidate fractional positions on your behalf and send the proceeds as cash. If you held fractional Vanguard, Fidelity, or American Funds mutual funds inside your Schwab brokerage, expect a small cash residual showing up at the destination 2-3 days after the in-kind transfer completes.
Warning: If your account migrated from TD Ameritrade, some pre-printed forms may still have the legacy TDA cost-basis lot details — Schwab's system has the correct migrated cost basis, but if your destination custodian asks for a transfer-of-basis report, request it from Schwab's tax-reporting desk specifically (the standard report only shows current Schwab basis, not the TDA history).
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This comparison is informational only — it documents the procedural mechanics of rolling over a 401(k) between Vanguard and Charles Schwab. 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.