If you have other IRAs or qualified retirement plans, you may be able to transfer or rollover those retirement funds into your Guideline IRA account. To do so, you’ll need to complete several steps in your Guideline dashboard and with your prior retirement account provider.
Information needed for your transfer or direct rollover
Before taking any action in your IRA dashboard, please collect and confirm the following information from your previous retirement account. You will need to provide this information to Guideline to ensure the proper allocation of your funds:
Previous provider name
Account type (IRA, 401(k), 403(b), 457(b), defined benefit, etc.)
Pre-tax balance (as applicable)
Roth balance (as applicable)
Roth basis: The total contributions made to your previous Roth IRA or designated Roth 401(k) without earnings
Roth start year: First year Roth contributions were made to your previous Roth IRA or designated Roth 401(k)
How to initiate the request in Guideline
Once you have the information above ready, click on your name in the right-hand corner of your Guideline IRA dashboard and navigate to “Start a Rollover.” Select the “+ Add a Rollover” button and complete the workflow to initiate the process. If any information entered changes, you will be able edit the details later.
The workflow will request both your pre-tax (non-roth 401(k), traditional/SEP IRA) and Roth amounts you will be rolling over or transferring. If you are only rolling over one type of fund, enter $0 in the other fund type to allow submission of the request. If you are requesting to move accounts from multiple providers to your Guideline IRA, you should submit a separate rollover request for each provider. Note that you cannot rollover a Roth IRA to an account type other than a Roth IRA.
Once you have initiated the process within Guideline, rollover instructions regarding your previous provider will populate within the “Start a Rollover” section of your account.
Note: Initiating the process in your Guideline dashboard does not start the process with your previous provider. Instead, you must work with your prior provider on processing the request on their side, as well. Some providers will require a letter of acceptance from Guideline to confirm the type of account that will be credited and to confirm that Guideline will accept the funds. A letter of acceptance can be provided upon request.
Sending your funds to Guideline
After initiating the rollover request in your Guideline dashboard, you must contact your previous provider to request a release of the funds.
Typically, if the funds are coming from an employer-sponsored plan, you can request the funds be sent via a direct rollover (where the payment would be sent directly to Guideline) or to your address with a check made payable to BTC/Guideline for your benefit.
You may also request an indirect rollover where the check will be made payable to you. However, indirect rollovers from qualified retirement plans have mandatory tax withholding as well as strict time constraints and require additional steps. Indirect rollovers from IRAs can also be subject to taxation if not properly rolled over. You can learn more about the indirect rollover process here.
When working with your previous provider, please share with them the following information:
Checks should be made payable to: “BTC for GDL FBO [your name]”
Include your Guideline account number on the check. This can be on a memo line, the check payable line, or in an attached check stub or statement. Failure to include your Guideline account number may lead to a delay in funds being attributed to your account or the check being rejected and returned to the sender.
Checks should be mailed to:
Benefit Trust Company
P.O. Box 12765
Overland Park, Kansas 66282
Please note, Benefit Trust Company (BTC) is the custodian name.
In the event your previous provider mails the check directly to you, we recommend making copies of it for your financial records. Then, mail the check and all supporting documents to the custodian at the address above. Please do not endorse or sign the check before sending it.
Processing timeline
It typically takes approximately 7-10 business days for mail to reach the custodian if sent via USPS. You will be notified by email within 5-7 business days when BTC has received your check.
Funds will be attributed to your Guideline IRA account approximately 5-7 business days after receipt of your rollover or transfer check. There may be delays in processing if all required information is not included.
The funds will appear in your dashboard under “Recent Transactions” in the Activity tab once the rollover has completed.
Important notes
Please ensure that your IRA is opened with Guideline prior to initiating a transfer or rollover of funds from another provider.
Please do not send checks to any of Guideline’s business addresses. Rollover and transfer checks should only be sent to Benefit Trust Company at the address listed above to ensure timely processing. Checks sent to an alternative mailing address may experience longer processing times, as they will require rerouting to the correct department before processing can begin.
Guideline does not support transfer or rollovers via a wire or ACH transfer.