Author Topic: In-kind transfer (TOA) out of Schwab - $50 fee  (Read 1141 times)

appleshampooid

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In-kind transfer (TOA) out of Schwab - $50 fee
« on: September 05, 2018, 08:51:29 AM »
Mostly just idle bitching on my part, plus fair warning to others.

I started an in-kind transfer of some ETFs from my Schwab taxable account to Vanguard. This was mostly a simplification move, also since I can now sell them free at Vanguard, thought it made sense.

Everything worked fine until the transfer showed up and my settlement account at Vanguard had a *negative* $50 balance. Checked on my Schwab online account, and sure enough there was a $50 transfer fee levied.

Rather pissed, I went to look at the fee schedule : https://client.schwab.com/secure/cc/products/fees
Nothing listed there, so I fired up a chat with their agent. She said it was a standard TOA fee ($25 for partial, $50 for full account). I complained that it wasn't disclosed and she said it was disclosed in my account agreement. Pull up the account agreement and it didn't even list the fee amount, just that they *may* assess a fee and that it would be listed in the pricing guide - and you have to call to get the pricing guide. What BS.

Later I found the pricing guide online : https://www.schwab.com/public/schwab/nn/agreements/schwab_pricing_guide_for_individual_investors.html

Oh well, $50 isn't the end of the world, but I consider it pretty unethical not to disclose it on the main fee schedule where everyone would look for fees. This will bite me 1 more time as I also initiated a transfer for my Roth IRA. Using the Vanguard online tools, they only option available for this account was also in-kind, even though taxable transactions don't matter in the Roth and I could happily liquidate the positions and make it a cash transfer (which may or may not have the same fee). I will keep that in mind for next time.

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Re: In-kind transfer (TOA) out of Schwab - $50 fee
« Reply #1 on: September 05, 2018, 08:59:20 AM »
Standard operating procedure. Sucks, but it's definitely in there. Some jerk companies will assess transfer AND closing account fees and slap a few other bits on there sometimes just for spite.

Sometimes, if you ask nicely, the place you transferred into will rebate the transfer fee as a thank you for your business. Might want to contact Vanguard and ask if they could do that for you.

Fido definitely will on some of the fees to get your business, and I can't imagine why Vanguard wouldn't do so as well.