Paperwork Pre-Check
Run a transfer or account-opening form through the checks that catch the most common rejections.
From Breakaway Transitions 101: Get Paperwork In Good Order →Tool: Paperwork Pre-Check
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Tick each check once you've confirmed it
ACAT transfer · 0/8 checks done
Not ready8 outstanding issues
- Every name matches the client's ID and existing records exactly. Confirm each owner's full legal name, including middle initial and suffix.
- Every required signer has signed, and every signature is dated. A missing signer or undated signature is one of the most common rejections.
- All pages of the form are included. Check the page count against the form's footer before sending.
- Account title matches the delivering firm's statement exactly. A name or title mismatch with the delivering firm is a frequent cause of rejection.
- Delivering account number checked against a recent statement. Copy the account number from a current statement, not from memory or an old file.
- Receiving account type matches the delivering account (e.g. joint to joint, IRA to IRA). Mismatched registrations won't go through as submitted.
- Receiving account is open at the new custodian. Open the new account first, or submit the application alongside the transfer as your custodian requires.
- Positions the new custodian can't hold have been identified and discussed with the client. Proprietary funds or products may need a separate decision before the transfer.
This is a general pre-check covering common causes of NIGO paperwork, not a complete list. Requirements vary by custodian, delivering firm, plan and account type. Your custodian's transition or service team has the final word on what a specific form needs.