We're sorry that you're looking to transfer your investments out of Vanguard.
Here are some things to think about when doing a transfer to help improve your chances of investment success:
- keep costs low
- keep a balanced portfolio (the right mix of assets, such as shares or bonds)
- think about goals
- be disciplined
What can I transfer out?
You can transfer:
- all your cash or investments
- some of your cash and investments
- the same funds you’re invested in at Vanguard if the other provider offers them, known as a re-registration
If you want to transfer part of your ISA, any money paid into it in the current tax year must be transferred in full.
You must transfer all your cash and investments. If you want to transfer to a cash Junior ISA, you can make a partial transfer. Any money paid into it in the current tax year must be transferred in full.
If you're not in drawdown
You can transfer all or part of your pension. If you only want to transfer part, at least £10,000 must be retained in your account.
If you are in drawdown
You must transfer all the pension unless you are transferring to an annuity provider and then you can do a partial transfer.
If your pension is part in drawdown and part not in drawdown
The whole amount will need to be transferred unless you are transferring to an annuity provider.
Paperwork when transferring a Personal Pension
If your other provider cannot process your transfer electronically, you may need to fill in a discharge form.
If you do need to fill in a discharge form, you can download the paperwork from the ‘Documents’ section of your account when logged in on our website. We’ll send you an email letting you know that you have a new document.
This paperwork includes:
- member declaration – to be completed by you
- receiving scheme declaration – to be completed by your other provider
Once you complete the member declaration, send the pack to your other provider to complete their part. They should then send the completed pack back to us.
How do I transfer out?
Check that your provider will accept your transfer. Some providers have restrictions on the types of transfers they accept.
Fill in a transfer request with the provider you want to transfer your Vanguard account to. You need to give them your Vanguard account number. You can find it on the ‘Overview’ screen of our app or select ‘My Profile’ then ‘Product’ in your online account.
Check your details are correct before you submit the form. The wrong information could delay your transfer.
Submit your form.
What happens after I submit a transfer request with the other provider?
Your provider contacts us to arrange the transfer.
We send you an email to let you know we’ve received their request.
We process your request and send you weekly progress updates by email. If we need anything further, we may send you a secure message.
How do Vanguard and the other provider work together on my transfer?
Stocks and Shares ISA, General Account and Junior ISA
We review the request and respond to your other provider with the required information.
The other provider reviews the information and confirms how to proceed.
We review their response and arrange to transfer your Vanguard funds and/or cash.
Personal Pension (SIPP)
We review and validate the request.
We respond to the other provider with any information that’s required.
If required, the other provider will review the information and confirm how to proceed.
We review their response and arrange to transfer your Vanguard funds and/or cash.
What happens to my investments during the transfer?
If you’re doing an in-specie transfer (transferring a Vanguard fund to a provider that offers the same fund), we ringfence your fund once your other provider asks us to proceed with your transfer.
There are a few stages to transferring a fund, which usually take up to 10 working days, but can sometimes take longer. The fund stays invested during the transfer.
If your other provider asks us to transfer any cash, we send this once your Vanguard fund is transferred and let you know.
If, however, you’re transferring a Vanguard fund to a provider that does not offer that particular fund, we need to sell it before the transfer. This means the cash from the sale will not be invested for a period of time during the transfer, so you could miss out on gains.
How long do a transfers take?
ISA transfers can take up to 30 working days or more.
Pension transfers can take as little as 10 working days or as long as 10 weeks.
Delays in transfers can be caused by:
- the type of transfer requested
- actions required to complete the request
- provider turnaround times at each stage of the transfer
- invalid information or requests
- additional information or paperwork that might be required
Need more help?
Do you have a Vanguard account?
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