Yes, you can move your Roth IRA from TIAA to Fidelity

You can transfer your Roth IRA from TIAA to Fidelity without closing the account or paying taxes on the money. The process is called a direct transfer (also called a trustee-to-trustee transfer), and it moves your balance straight from TIAA's systems to Fidelity's. No funds pass through your hands, and no tax bill results.

The transfer itself usually takes 7 to 21 business days, though TIAA and Fidelity may quote different timelines. You keep the same Roth IRA — the account type and contribution history stay the same — but Fidelity becomes the new custodian holding the money.

Key Takeaways

  • A direct transfer from TIAA to Fidelity moves your Roth IRA balance without taxes or penalties, as long as you request it in writing from Fidelity.
  • Fidelity will contact TIAA on your behalf once you complete their transfer form, so you do not have to call TIAA yourself.
  • Your investments may be sold and the proceeds held as cash during the transfer, so you may miss market movement or sit in cash for a few days.
  • The transfer does not reset your Roth IRA contribution history or five-year holding period, which matters if you plan to withdraw earnings later.

How to start the transfer at Fidelity

Log into your Fidelity account online or call Fidelity's IRA transfer team at 1-800-343-3548. Tell them you want to move your Roth IRA from TIAA. They will send you a form called an IRA Transfer Request or Account Transfer Form. You fill it out with your TIAA account number and sign it.

On the form, you will choose whether to transfer all the money or just part of it. If you transfer only part, TIAA will keep the rest in your account there. Once you sign and return the form to Fidelity (by mail, email, or upload), Fidelity takes over — they contact TIAA directly and handle the rest.

You do not need to call TIAA or notify them yourself. Fidelity's transfer team manages the communication with TIAA and tracks the progress on their end.

What happens to your investments during the transfer

TIAA will likely sell your investments (mutual funds, annuities, or whatever you hold there) and send the cash to Fidelity. This means your money sits in cash for a few days while the transfer is in flight, and you miss any market movement — up or down — during that time.

Once the cash arrives at Fidelity, it sits in your Roth IRA as cash until you invest it. You can then buy stocks, mutual funds, ETFs, or other investments through Fidelity. Some people wait to reinvest until the market looks right to them; others reinvest right away to get back into the market quickly.

If you hold an annuity or other product at TIAA that cannot be easily sold, contact Fidelity's transfer team before you start. They can tell you whether that product can move or whether you will have to leave it behind at TIAA.

Your contribution history and five-year rule stay with you

The transfer does not reset your Roth IRA. Your contribution history, the year you opened the account, and your five-year holding period all follow you to Fidelity. This matters because Roth IRAs have a five-year rule: you must have held a Roth IRA for five tax years before you can withdraw earnings tax-free.

If you opened your Roth IRA at TIAA in 2020, the five-year clock started then. Moving to Fidelity in 2024 does not restart it — you still hit the five-year mark in 2025. The IRS tracks this by the year you first opened any Roth IRA, not by custodian.

Timing: how long the transfer takes

Fidelity typically says 7 to 21 business days. TIAA may quote a different number on their end. The actual time depends on how busy both companies are and whether there are any holds or questions about your account.

During the transfer, your money is in motion but still protected. It belongs to you the whole time, and you cannot access it until it lands at Fidelity. Once it arrives, you can see it in your Fidelity account and invest it or leave it as cash.

Partial transfers: leaving money at TIAA

If you transfer only part of your Roth IRA to Fidelity, the rest stays at TIAA. You will have two Roth IRAs — one at TIAA and one at Fidelity. Both count toward your annual contribution limit, and both are subject to the five-year rule.

Some people do this if they want to keep an annuity or other product at TIAA but move the rest to Fidelity. Others do it by accident if they do not specify "transfer all" on the form. Check your TIAA account after the transfer completes to see whether anything is left there.

What to do if the transfer stalls or gets stuck

If more than 21 business days pass and the money has not arrived, contact Fidelity's transfer team again. They can check the status with TIAA and find out whether there is a hold, a missing document, or a processing delay.

Common reasons for delays include a mismatch between the name on your TIAA account and your Fidelity account, a missing signature on the form, or a hold placed by TIAA for compliance reasons. Fidelity can usually resolve these by phone or email within a few days once they know what the issue is.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will I owe taxes or penalties when I transfer?

No. A direct transfer from TIAA to Fidelity is not a taxable event. The money moves between custodians without passing through your hands, so the IRS does not treat it as a withdrawal. You owe no taxes or penalties as long as you use a direct transfer, not a rollover where you take the money yourself.

Can I transfer just my earnings, or do I have to move the whole account?

You can transfer part of your Roth IRA. On Fidelity's transfer form, you specify the amount or choose "all." If you transfer only part, the rest stays at TIAA. Both accounts remain separate Roth IRAs under your name.

What if I have an annuity at TIAA that I want to keep?

Contact Fidelity's transfer team before you start. Some annuities cannot be transferred and must stay at TIAA. You may be able to transfer everything else and leave the annuity behind, or you may need to keep the whole account at TIAA. Fidelity can tell you which option applies to your specific product.

Does the transfer reset my five-year holding period for Roth withdrawals?

No. Your five-year clock is based on when you first opened any Roth IRA, not on when you transfer it. If you opened your Roth at TIAA in 2020, moving it to Fidelity in 2024 does not restart the clock. You still reach five years in 2025.

What happens to my money while it is being transferred?

Your investments at TIAA are sold and converted to cash. That cash is in transit to Fidelity for 7 to 21 business days. Once it arrives at Fidelity, it sits as cash in your Roth IRA until you invest it. You do not earn interest on the cash, and you cannot access it during the transfer.