How to Transfer Assets From E*TRADE to Fidelity: Fees, Time & Steps
POINTS
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Start the transfer through Fidelity using ACATS.
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Choose a full or partial account transfer.
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Eligible stocks and ETFs can usually transfer in kind.
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Fractional shares may be sold, while cost basis generally transfers.
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Most transfers take several business days.
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Check transfer fees and Fidelity’s reimbursement options.
Moving an ETRADE account to Fidelity can transfer eligible investments without requiring you to sell them first.
Most stocks can be transferred in kind, while some securities may need to be sold and transferred as cash.
The type of ETRADE account also determines the compatible Fidelity account.
Steps Before Starting the Transfer
- Account and Login Info: Make sure you have your ETRADE account number, Social Security number or tax ID, and login/password.
- Compatible Account Types: Verify that your ETRADE account type matches an eligible Fidelity account type. For example, a Brokerage account goes to a Fidelity Brokerage, a Traditional IRA to a Fidelity Traditional/Rollover IRA, a Roth IRA to a Fidelity Roth IRA, etc.
- Beneficiary and Registration Info: Check that the owner and registration on the Fidelity account match your E*TRADE account.
- Tax Forms and IDs: Ensure Fidelity has your correct tax ID on file. If it doesn’t match the E*TRADE account, you may need to provide a W-9 or other tax forms.
- Margin, Short Positions, and Loans: If your ETRADE account has a margin loan, short sales, or unsettled trades, resolve these first.
- Other Assets: If you hold assets ETRADE offers that Fidelity does not, you may need to liquidate them before moving.
When Does Fidelity Send Out Tax Forms? Know When to Expect Yours
How to Initiate an ETRADE-to-Fidelity Transfer
| Step | What to Do | Process |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Open a Fidelity account | Open the same type of account you have at E*TRADE. |
| 2 | Get your E*TRADE statement | Download your most recent statement. You may need to upload it. |
| 3 | Start the transfer at Fidelity | Fidelity is where you request the transfer. |
| 4 | Choose what to transfer | Transfer the whole account or only certain investments. |
| 5 | Choose “in kind” if available | Your investments can move to Fidelity without selling them first. |
| 6 | Wait for the transfer | Most transfers take about 3–5 business days, although some take longer. |
Fidelity will then send the transfer instructions electronically to E*TRADE.
You can track progress via the Fidelity Transfer Tracker after logging in or contact Fidelity support if needed. Fidelity does not charge a fee to receive the ACAT.
Full vs. Partial Account Transfers
| Full Transfer | Partial Transfer | |
|---|---|---|
| What is it? | Move everything from E*TRADE to Fidelity. | Move only selected investments or cash. |
| E*TRADE account | Usually closes after the transfer. | Stays open with whatever you leave behind. |
| Best if… | You want to completely move to Fidelity. | You want to keep some assets at E*TRADE. |
| Advantage | One account to manage. Simpler. | More flexibility—you choose what moves. |
| Disadvantage | You can no longer use the E*TRADE account after it closes. | You have two accounts to manage. |
| What moves? | All eligible assets and cash. | Only the assets you select. |
| Transfer fee | E*TRADE may charge an outgoing transfer fee. | Fees depend on the transfer and E*TRADE’s current fee schedule. |
| Simple choice | Want everything at Fidelity? Choose Full. | Want to keep something at E*TRADE? Choose Partial. |
Which option should you choose?
If you want to move everything from E*TRADE to Fidelity, choose a full transfer. This is the simplest option because you’ll have just one brokerage account to manage after the transfer.
If you want to move only certain investments or cash and keep the rest at ETRADE, choose a partial transfer.
Your ETRADE account will remain open with the assets you leave behind.
Which Assets Can Be Transferred In Kind?
Most common investment types transfer in-kind, but with some exceptions:
| Asset Type | Can It Transfer? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Usually | Most stocks can move to Fidelity without being sold. |
| ETFs | Usually | Eligible whole shares can generally transfer in kind. |
| Mutual Funds | Depends | Some can transfer; others may need to be sold and transferred as cash. |
| Options | Depends | You need the appropriate Fidelity options approval before transferring option positions. |
| Bonds | Usually | Many eligible bonds can transfer without being sold. |
| Cash | Yes | Cash can transfer to your Fidelity account. |
| Fractional Shares | No | Fractional shares cannot transfer and must be sold before the transfer. |
| Annuities | Depends | These may require a different transfer process. |
| Crypto | Check first | Don’t assume crypto can move through a standard brokerage transfer. |
| Paper Stock Certificates | Not by standard transfer | These require a separate process. |
Most stocks and ETFs can move from E*TRADE to Fidelity without selling them first.
The main things to double-check are fractional shares, mutual funds, options, and other specialized investments.
If an investment isn’t eligible for an in-kind transfer, it may need to be sold and transferred as cash.
Fractional Shares, Cash, and Cost Basis
| Topic | Can It Transfer? | What Happens |
|---|---|---|
| Fractional Shares | No | Fractional shares must be sold before the transfer. |
| Whole Shares | Usually | Eligible stocks and ETFs can move to Fidelity without being sold. |
| Uninvested Cash | Yes | Cash can transfer to your Fidelity account. Some cash may arrive separately if transactions are still settling. |
| Cost Basis | Usually | Your purchase information generally transfers with eligible investments. Check it after the transfer. |
| Trade History | No | Your complete E*TRADE transaction history does not transfer as part of the account transfer. Keep your E*TRADE records. |
| Missing Cost Basis | May need updating | If cost-basis information is missing, you may need to provide it to Fidelity. |
- Fractional Shares: Fractional shares do not survive the transfer. If you transfer all assets, ETRADE will automatically liquidate any fractional share holdings and send the proceeds as cash.
- Cash Sweep/Uninvested Cash: Any uninvested cash in your ETRADE account will transfer. Initially, the whole-share securities move; then Fidelity will sweep the ETRADE account for any remaining cash or settled fund proceeds.
- Cost Basis and Tax Reporting: Covered cost-basis information should accompany transferred securities. Uncovered shares may lack automated basis transfer; you may have to enter or upload those manually via Fidelity’s Cost Basis Update form.
- Tax Implications: A direct broker-to-broker transfer is not a taxable event, so you do not report it to the IRS.
Before starting the transfer, download your ETRADE statements and save them.
This gives you a record of your holdings, purchase dates, cost basis, and transaction history in case anything is missing after the transfer.
How Long Does the Transfer Take?
Typical ACATS timelines are roughly 3–7 business days for electronic transfers.
| Stage | Typical Timing | Process |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Submit Transfer | 5–7 minutes | You request the transfer through Fidelity. |
| 2. Transfer Processing | Several business days | Fidelity sends the request to ETRADE, and ETRADE processes the transfer. |
| 3. Assets Arrive | Usually within 3–10 business days | Your eligible investments and cash appear in your Fidelity account. |
| 4. Remaining Assets | May take longer | Some cash or investments may arrive separately if they require additional processing or settlement. |
| 5. Paperwork Transfers | 2–6 weeks | Transfers requiring paper forms can take significantly longer. |
Overall, expect your E*TRADE assets to appear in Fidelity within about one week.
For a normal electronic transfer, plan for several business days and allow up to about 10 business days to be safe.
If your transfers involve paperwork, unusual investments, or pending transactions, it may take longer.
ETRADE Transfer Fees and Fidelity Reimbursement
An ACAT is the standard process used to move investments from one brokerage firm to another without selling eligible securities.
| Item | E*TRADE | Fidelity |
|---|---|---|
| Full ACAT transfer out | $75 | $0 to receive assets |
| Partial ACAT transfer | Typically $0* | $0 |
| Transfer-in fee | $0 | $0 |
| Can you transfer securities in kind? | Yes | Yes |
| Taxable brokerage transfer | No tax simply for transferring eligible assets in kind | No tax simply for receiving eligible assets |
| IRA transfer | Can transfer to another IRA | Same-type IRA transfer generally avoids taxes |
| Typical electronic transfer time | Depends on receiving firm | About 3–5 business days |
| Fidelity reimbursement of E*TRADE fee | — | Not automatic; depends on an applicable Fidelity offer/promotion |
| E*TRADE fee to budget for | $75 | — |
A full ETRADE-to-Fidelity transfer typically costs $75 on the ETRADE side, while Fidelity does not charge a fee to receive the assets; but, Fidelity may reimburse the $75 transfer fee depending on your eligibility and applicable offer.
Transferring Assets from E*TRADE to Fidelity FAQs
Yes, you can use Fidelity’s partial transfer option to select individual positions or asset categories, while unselected assets and cash remain at E*TRADE.
No, most stocks, funds, bonds, and options can be transferred in kind, but assets that are ineligible for transfer, such as fractional shares, certain proprietary funds, short positions, and other non-ACATS assets, may need to be sold or transferred as cash.
No, a broker-to-broker transfer is generally not a taxable sale or distribution and is not reported to the IRS; however, selling assets that cannot be transferred in kind can trigger taxable gains or losses in the year of the sale.
Yes, covered cost basis information should generally transfer with your assets, but you should review the information after the transfer and use Fidelity’s “Update Cost Basis” form to correct any missing or inaccurate data.
Yes, you can transfer part of an IRA through ACATS as long as you keep the same account type, while 401(k)s and other employer plans generally require a direct rollover or trustee-to-trustee transfer instead.
You can track the transfer through Fidelity’s “Transfer Tracker,” which shows the status and any issues with the transfer, and Fidelity will email you when it is complete.
If an asset is rejected, Fidelity will let you know, and you may need to sell the asset and transfer the proceeds as cash depending on the reason it is ineligible.
No, Fidelity does not automatically copy your previous DRIP settings, so you’ll need to enable dividend reinvestment in Account Settings after the transfer if you want it.
Yes, you can generally transfer a margin loan with your positions, but you must have margin enabled at Fidelity before or during the transfer request.
Start by checking Fidelity’s Transfer Tracker and contacting Fidelity client services, and if necessary, contact E*TRADE directly using the transfer reference number provided by Fidelity.
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