how to move stocks from robinhood to fidelity

How to move stocks from Robinhood to Fidelity

This guide explains how to move stocks from Robinhood to Fidelity, what to expect, and how to avoid common pitfalls. If you’re consolidating accounts, seeking better research tools, or moving retirement assets, this article walks you through the ACATS broker-to-broker transfer process, manual alternatives, timelines, fees, tax implications, and troubleshooting. By the end you’ll know the exact steps to initiate and complete a transfer and the items to verify at both brokers.

Why transfer from Robinhood to Fidelity

Investors ask how to move stocks from Robinhood to Fidelity for several practical reasons:

• Broader product offerings and research tools at Fidelity (mutual funds, large ETF selection, retirement planning tools).
• Better support for retirement accounts (IRAs, Roth IRAs, rollovers) and more account types.
• Access to advanced order types, margin lending, or specific options approval levels.
• Consolidation: keeping all taxable and tax-advantaged accounts in one custodian simplifies record-keeping.
• Customer-service preferences and perceived stability.

Understanding these motivations helps you choose whether to move assets in-kind (no sale) or to sell and transfer cash.

Transfer methods overview

There are two main ways to move assets from Robinhood to Fidelity:

1. ACATS in-kind transfer (broker-to-broker transfer).
2. Manual sell-and-transfer cash (liquidate positions at Robinhood and transfer the cash to Fidelity).

We focus primarily on ACATS because it allows many securities to move without triggering taxable sales. Below is how ACATS works and when the manual route may be better.

ACATS (Automated Customer Account Transfer Service)

ACATS is the standard U.S. broker-to-broker electronic transfer system used to move securities and cash between broker-dealers. When you request a transfer at Fidelity, they submit a Transfer of Assets (TOA) request to Robinhood (the delivering firm) through ACATS. Typical characteristics:

• Works for whole shares of U.S. stocks, many ETFs, and compatible options and mutual funds (if both brokers support them).
• Generally completes in 3–7 business days for standard transfers, though delays can occur.
• Preserves cost basis and lots in most cases, but verify cost-basis details after transfer.

As of June 1, 2024, according to Fidelity's Transfer Your Assets help page, most ACATS transfers complete within 3–7 business days when there are no special conditions or non-transferable assets.

Manual transfer (sell and transfer cash)

In some situations you may choose (or be forced) to sell positions at Robinhood and transfer cash to Fidelity:

• Non-transferable holdings (fractional shares, crypto positions, proprietary products) that cannot move in-kind.
• Urgent need for funds or faster access than a partial ACATS for specific assets.
• Wanting to avoid potential hassles with lot-level cost-basis matching.

Note: Selling securities may create taxable events (capital gains/losses) and may affect your tax reporting. If you sell to move cash, plan for settlement time (typically T+2 for stocks) and possible short-term capital gains.

Prerequisites before initiating a transfer

Before you request a transfer, confirm these items to reduce delays:

• Matching account type at Fidelity: open the same account type (individual brokerage, joint, traditional IRA, Roth IRA) as your Robinhood account.
• Exact account owner name match: ensure names match exactly (including punctuation) on both accounts.
• Robinhood account number and a recent statement: Fidelity may request your delivering account number and an uploaded statement to verify assets.
• Resolve pending activity: no unsettled trades, margin calls, or negative balances in your Robinhood account.
• Options/margin/short positions: verify whether those holdings are eligible to transfer and whether Fidelity grants equivalent approvals.
• Sufficient available cash (if delivering broker charges an outgoing transfer fee) or to cover liquidation of fractional shares if required.
• Beneficiary and tax info: ensure IRA beneficiaries and tax forms are in place at Fidelity post-transfer.

Step-by-step guide (typical ACATS process)

Below is a practical, sequential walk-through of how to move stocks from Robinhood to Fidelity using Fidelity’s transfer tools.

1. Open and verify the correct Fidelity account.

   • If you need a new account at Fidelity (individual, joint, IRA), open it and complete identity verification before the transfer.

2. Gather Robinhood account details and recent statement.

   • In the Robinhood app or web interface locate your account number and download the most recent account statement.

3. At Fidelity, start a Transfer of Assets (TOA).

   • Log into Fidelity, find “Transfer an Account” or TOA tools, and select the option to transfer from another broker.

4. Enter Robinhood as the delivering firm.

   • Choose Robinhood Securities, LLC (or the name on your Robinhood account) as the delivering firm and enter your Robinhood account number.

5. Choose full or partial transfer.

   • Full transfer (move everything) or partial transfer (select specific positions). For partial transfers, list the exact securities and share amounts.

6. Upload a Robinhood statement if requested.

   • Fidelity may ask for a PDF statement to confirm holdings and account details; upload via their secure portal.

7. Confirm and submit the transfer request.

   • Review all fields carefully (account numbers, name spellings, transfer type) and submit the TOA.

8. Monitor the transfer.

   • Use Fidelity’s Transfer Tracker and check Robinhood notifications. You may receive status updates and requests for additional verification.

9. Post-transfer verification.

   • When the transfer completes, verify holdings, cost basis, lot assignments, and dividend settings in your Fidelity account.

10. Re-establish account preferences.

• Turn on DRIP (dividend reinvestment) if desired, enable options or margin if needed (and approved), update beneficiaries for IRAs, and recreate watchlists.

Information fields you’ll be asked for

Typical fields required by Fidelity include:

• Delivering firm name (Robinhood Securities, LLC).
• Delivering account number (your Robinhood account number).
• Delivering account type (individual, joint, IRA, etc.).
• Transfer type (full or partial).
• List of specific securities and share quantities (for partial transfers).
• A recent account statement or PDF upload (may be optional but helpful).
• Electronic or wet signature authorization if required.

Provide these accurately to avoid rejections due to mismatched details.

Timeline and what to expect

• Standard ACATS timeframe: most transfers complete in 3–7 business days when all assets are transferable and information matches.
• Delays occur when: fractional shares, crypto, unvested securities, or restricted securities exist; delivering broker requires manual validation; or there are pending trades/settlements.
• Account access: typically, you retain access to your delivering account during the ACATS process, but you should avoid trading positions that are part of the transfer. Once the transfer completes, positions move into the receiving account and are reflected there.

As of May 15, 2024, Robinhood’s support pages note that certain asset types—especially cryptocurrencies and fractional shares—are not transferable via ACATS and will be either sold or remain in the delivering account until resolved.

Fees and reimbursements

• Delivering broker (Robinhood) historical policy: Robinhood has had varying policies on outbound transfer fees. Delivering brokers sometimes charge an outgoing ACATS fee for full account transfers.
• Receiving broker (Fidelity) policy: Fidelity does not typically charge an incoming transfer fee for receiving assets via ACATS.
• Reimbursements: Fidelity and other brokers occasionally run promotions to reimburse outgoing transfer fees paid to another broker. Reimbursement eligibility usually requires submitting a fee receipt and meeting minimum transfer amounts; check current Fidelity promotions before initiating.

Always confirm current fees with both Robinhood and Fidelity before starting a transfer—policies change.

What transfers in-kind and what does not

Which assets typically transfer in-kind via ACATS:

• Whole U.S.-listed stocks and ETFs.
• Many options contracts (subject to approval levels and compatibility).
• Cash positions.
• Certain mutual funds if both brokers support the fund.

Common non-transferable or problematic items:

• Fractional shares: many brokers (including Robinhood historically) represent fractional shares internally; ACATS usually requires whole-share units. Fractional shares are often liquidated to cash before transfer, or the delivering broker rounds up/down.
• Cryptocurrencies: crypto held on Robinhood cannot be ACATS-transferred to Fidelity. Crypto positions typically must be sold for cash before transfer.
• Some mutual funds or proprietary products not supported by the receiving broker.
• Certain bonds, structured products, or restricted securities may need manual handling.
• Open short positions: transferring open short positions is complicated and often not permitted. You may need to close shorts before transferring.

Treatment of fractional shares and crypto:

• Fractional shares are frequently converted to cash; check with Robinhood for how they handle fractional positions and whether they will liquidate or exchange them into whole shares prior to transfer.
• Crypto assets on Robinhood must typically be sold within Robinhood; they do not move to a traditional broker like Fidelity via ACATS.

Special cases

Retirement accounts (IRAs)

• IRA-to-IRA transfers: you can move an IRA at Robinhood to a Fidelity IRA without tax consequences if processed as a trustee-to-trustee transfer.
• Account-type matching: ensure the receiving Fidelity account is the same IRA type (Traditional IRA → Traditional IRA; Roth IRA → Roth IRA).
• Rollovers: direct rollovers should be handled carefully to avoid unintended distributions. Use Fidelity’s TOA tools and select IRA transfer to avoid tax issues.

Margin accounts, short positions, and options

• Margin: transferring a margin account may require Fidelity to approve margin privileges. If you rely on margin and want margin at Fidelity, request margin approval early.
• Options: options transfer eligibility depends on both brokers and required approval levels. Complex options strategies or positions with assignment risk may have restrictions.
• Short positions: many brokers do not ACATS-transfer open short positions; expect to close or otherwise resolve shorts before a transfer.

Partial transfers and transferring specific positions

• Partial transfers let you move selected securities rather than the entire account. Use Fidelity’s TOA tool to specify exact tickers and share quantities.
• For partial transfers, be precise with share counts and verify that fractional-share handling is clarified.

Cost basis, tax, and reporting considerations

• Cost basis transfer: ACATS can carry cost-basis information, but accuracy depends on the delivering broker's records. Fidelity will attempt to import cost-basis and lot data from Robinhood.
• Missing cost basis: if cost basis does not transfer, you are responsible for reporting accurate basis. Keep your Robinhood statements and trade confirmations.
• Taxable events: selling securities to transfer cash triggers realized gains or losses. IRA transfers (trustee-to-trustee) are not taxable events.
• Reporting: after transfers, verify 1099 and other tax reporting documents from the receiving broker. If cost-basis data is incorrect or missing, contact both brokers promptly.

Post-transfer tasks and account housekeeping

After your assets appear in Fidelity, complete these housekeeping steps:

• Verify holdings and cost-basis: confirm each position, lot, and cost basis.
• Confirm account settings: dividends (DRIP), tax withholding for IRAs, and beneficiary designations.
• Re-establish trading permissions: apply for margin or options approval if needed and coordinate any pending orders.
• Recreate watchlists and alerts you had at Robinhood.
• Store statements: keep copies of your Robinhood and Fidelity statements for at least several years for tax and audit purposes.

Common problems and troubleshooting

If a transfer is rejected or delayed, common causes and fixes include:

• Mismatched account names: ensure name spellings, suffixes (Jr., Sr.), and punctuation match exactly.
• Incorrect account number: double-check the delivering account number typed at Fidelity.
• Pending trades or unsettled funds: cancel or wait for trades to settle before retrying.
• Fractional shares or crypto: sell or convert fractional or crypto holdings before trying an ACATS transfer.
• Negative balances or margin issues: resolve negative balances or margin deficiencies at Robinhood prior to transfer.

If you run into problems, contact Fidelity’s transfer support and Robinhood support. Provide recent account statements, screenshots, and the Fidelity transfer request ID for faster resolution. Use Fidelity’s Transfer Tracker to see step-by-step progress.

Security and best practices

• Match account owner names exactly to avoid rejections.
• Use secure channels: upload sensitive documents only via Fidelity’s secure transfer portal.
• Keep copies: save PDFs of account statements and the transfer confirmation.
• Monitor transfers: track status and notifications from both brokers and report any unauthorized activity immediately.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Q: Can I transfer crypto from Robinhood to Fidelity?

A: No. Crypto held on Robinhood generally cannot be ACATS-transferred to Fidelity. You must sell crypto positions and transfer the resulting cash. Confirm the latest policy with Robinhood before deciding.

Q: Will I have to sell my stocks when I move them from Robinhood to Fidelity?

A: Not necessarily. For most whole-share U.S. stocks and ETFs, you can move holdings in-kind using ACATS. Non-transferable assets (fractionals, crypto, some mutual funds) may require liquidation.

Q: How long does a transfer take?

A: Most broker-to-broker ACATS transfers complete within 3–7 business days when there are no special conditions. Delays can occur for non-transferable assets or required manual interventions.

Q: Who charges transfer fees?

A: The delivering broker (Robinhood) may charge an outgoing transfer fee. Fidelity typically does not charge incoming transfer fees. Check current fee schedules and promotion terms for reimbursements.

Q: What happens to fractional shares?

A: Fractional shares often cannot be transferred via ACATS and may be sold by the delivering broker to create whole-share quantities, with cash moved instead. Confirm Robinhood’s fractional-handling policy before initiating a transfer.

References and further reading

• Fidelity: Transfer Your Assets help and Transfer of Assets (TOA) guidance (refer to Fidelity’s current support resource).
• Robinhood: Transfer your assets / account statements and delivering firm information.
• Representative third-party guides and walkthrough videos provide additional step-by-step visuals and user experiences.

As of June 1, 2024, according to Fidelity's Transfer Your Assets help page, most ACATS transfers complete within 3–7 business days when assets are eligible for transfer and documentation matches. As of May 15, 2024, Robinhood’s support notes that certain asset types—particularly cryptocurrencies and fractional shares—are not transferable via ACATS and require liquidation or other handling before a broker-to-broker transfer.

See also

• ACATS (Automated Customer Account Transfer Service)
• Broker-to-broker transfers and Transfer of Assets (TOA)
• Brokerage account types (individual, joint, IRA)
• Tax reporting and Form 1099 considerations

Security note and editorial guidance

Broker procedures, fees, and eligibility rules change over time. Before initiating any transfer, check the latest Robinhood and Fidelity support pages and contact both brokers if you have nonstandard holdings or complex positions (IRAs with unique assets, margin/short positions, or options strategies).

Additional help and next steps

If you prefer step-by-step assistance, contact Fidelity’s transfer team and request help completing a Transfer of Assets. Keep Robinhood account details and a recent statement ready for a smooth submission. If you also use Web3 wallets for digital assets, consider Bitget Wallet for custody and wallet services when exploring digital-asset options; note that crypto holdings typically cannot be broker-transferred and require separate handling.

Want to explore custody and wallet solutions or learn more about account consolidation? Visit Bitget’s wallet and custody resources to compare options and best practices for holding digital assets alongside traditional brokerage accounts.

Notes for editors: Broker policies, fees, and transfer eligibility change frequently. Verify Robinhood and Fidelity support pages on the day of publication for the most current instructions and fee details.