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Charles Schwab Rollover IRAs Overview
Charles Schwab offers several IRA options, including the
Rollover IRA. This account is built for investors who want to move retirement money from an old workplace plan into an IRA at Schwab. Here are the details:
Charles Schwab Rollover IRA Terms
A Schwab Rollover IRA is generally used for
pre-tax retirement savings, so it usually functions much like a Traditional IRA from a tax standpoint. If the old employer plan includes different contribution types, such as pre-tax, after-tax, or Roth money, the source of the assets should be reviewed because more than one IRA may be required.
A separate Rollover IRA is not always required to complete a rollover. An existing IRA may be able to receive assets from an employer-sponsored retirement plan as well. For Roth 401(k) assets, however, the destination is generally a Roth IRA rather than a Rollover IRA.
With regular IRAs, pre-tax employer-plan money is commonly moved into a Traditional IRA. Roth employer-plan assets can be rolled into a Roth IRA, and pre-tax money can also be moved into a Roth IRA if the investor chooses a
taxable Roth conversion or rollover.
In addition to 401(k) plans, Schwab lists several other employer-sponsored retirement plans that may be rolled over, including 403(b) plans, Keogh/Qualified Retirement Plans, money purchase plans, and profit-sharing plans.
Charles Schwab Rollover IRA Sign Up
Starting a Rollover IRA or another IRA at Schwab is not complicated. Just
look for the button to open an account. Click on it and continue through the application steps. Selecting the Rollover IRA option should take you to the correct form. Choosing the general account-opening button will bring up a menu of account types, including Roth, Traditional, Rollover, and other IRA choices.
Charles Schwab IRA Rollover Form
Open Schwab Account
For any account type, fill in the information Schwab asks for on the application. An account may open right away, although approval to receive deposits, transfers, and rollovers can take additional time. When we opened a Roth IRA with Schwab, the application was accepted immediately, but it took a few business days before the account was cleared for deposits, transfers, and rollovers.
Schwab also allows IRA applications through its mobile app. To begin from the app, tap the person icon in the upper-left corner and scroll to the account-opening link.
IRA Products
A Schwab IRA can be set up as either a
self-directed account or an advisory account. The advisory lineup includes both automated and traditional managed-account choices. Investment choices may include:
- Stocks, including OTC and foreign stocks
- Bonds and other fixed-income vehicles
- Mutual funds
- ETFs
- Closed-end funds
- Options
Schwab also offers futures trading, and
some IRA accounts can apply for futures approval. Eligible IRA types include SEP, Roth, Traditional, and Rollover IRAs, but Schwab requires a
minimum net liquidity of $25,000, margin approval, and option-spreads approval for futures trading inside an IRA.
Schwab Rollover IRA Cost and Minimums
Like Schwab’s other IRA choices, the Rollover IRA has
no minimum deposit requirement and no account-opening or maintenance fees. A Schwab IRA can be opened with a
$0 balance, and Schwab does not charge a fee to complete a rollover.
Trade pricing follows Schwab’s standard commission schedule for brokerage accounts. Online listed stock and ETF trades have
$0 commissions, and online options trades have a
$0 base commission plus a $0.65 per-contract fee. Other transactions, investments, and account services may carry fees or expenses.
Schwab Rollover IRA Features
Schwab provides a variety of retirement-planning resources that may be useful for Rollover IRA owners. One calculator can help estimate Required Minimum Distributions. Another tool can help review the potential benefits and drawbacks of converting assets to a Roth IRA. These resources, along with other retirement tools, are available on Schwab’s Retirement & IRAs page under the Products tab.
Making a Rollover at Schwab
To roll money over from an employer-sponsored retirement plan, the request generally starts with the old plan’s administrator. This is not the same as a standard ACAT transfer, which is normally initiated by the receiving brokerage firm. When requesting the rollover, you will need to provide your
Schwab account number.
Investors who need assistance with the rollover process can contact Schwab’s rollover consultants through the retirement department. They are available during the week at
866-855-5635.
Visit Charles Schwab Website
Open Schwab Account
Updated on 8/20/2026.
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