How to do an ADP 401(k) rollover

If you have a 401(k) at ADP from a previous job, there are a few options for you to consider when doing a rollover. The process for ADP can be done either online, by phone, or by mailing a form and a check will be mailed for you to deposit into the new account.

We’ve laid out a step-by-step guide to help you roll over your old ADP 401(k) in five key steps:

1. Confirm a few key details about your 401(k) plan
2. Decide where to move your money
3. Initiate your rollover with ADP 
4. Get a check in the mail and deposit it into the new account
5. Make sure your funds are being invested properly

STEP 1

Confirm a few key details about your ADP 401(k)

First, get together any information you have on your ADP 401(k). It’s okay if you don’t have a ton, but any details like an old account statement or an offboarding e-mail from your former HR team can help. 401(k) paperwork can be confusing, so just focus on identifying the following items:

1. Is your account eligible for a rollover? In most cases, it takes about 2 weeks from the time you leave a company for your 401(k) to be eligible for a distribution or rollover. You can confirm that your plan is able to be transferred by contacting ADP or your previous employer’s HR department.
2. Do you have a Traditional or Roth 401(k)? This will determine which type of IRA you’ll need to open (more on this in step 2). The vast majority of people have a traditional 401(k), and this is almost always the default option in a 401(k) plan you’d have access to at work. Only 12% of 401(k) plans even offer a Roth 401(k), but it’s worth checking. What’s the difference between the two? Just the way your contributions were taxed. With a Traditional 401(k) your contributions came out of your paycheck with no taxes paid. With a Roth 401(k) your contributions came out after taxes were paid.
3. Is your mailing address up to date? Make sure your mailing address is updated on your ADP 401(k) account. They’ll use this address to send you a paper check as part of the rollover process. If you need to update your address, make sure to do so during your phone call authorization (more in step 4)

STEP 2

Decide where to transfer your ADP 401(k)

In order to move the money out of your 401(k) account, you’ll first need to have an account opened for that money to move into.

You have two main options:

1. An IRA — an IRA is an “individual retirement account”. As the name suggests, it’s an account you open up on your own and it isn’t connected to an employer.
2. A new 401(k) — you might have an active 401(k) account with a current employer. If so, you may be able to transfer your old 401(k) savings into that current account. This isn’t always possible though, and you’ll need to check with your current 401(k) provider and HR person.

We’ve written a full guide on the five key differences between 401(k)s and IRAs if you’re trying to understand all of the differences.

Ultimately, most people who roll over an old 401(k) do so into an IRA for a few key reasons:

• Not tied to an employer — IRAs are generally easier to keep track of since they’re opened by you at an institution of your choice like Fidelity, Vanguard, or Betterment.
• Wider range of investment options — your 401(k) account generally has a limited set of investment options. With an IRA, you can invest your money in a wide range of stocks, ETFs and even private assets like angel investments and cryptocurrency.
• Quicker process — according to the GAO, rollovers into 401(k)s tend to be more time-consuming and administratively challenging than rollovers into IRAs.

Think of your IRA as helping you do two key tasks:

1. Receive the money you’ve saved in your 401(k) at previous jobs so you can consolidate your savings and keep track of them.
2. Grow that money by allocating it into investments that will increase over time.

The good news? Opening an IRA can almost always be done online and should take you less than 10 minutes, if you don’t already have one.

STEP 3

Initiate your ADP 401(k) rollover

You’re making great progress. You’ve confirmed key details about your 401(k) plan and you have an IRA to transfer your money into. The next step is to initiate your rollover with ADP. ADP has three methods for requesting a rollover to another institution:

1. online through your ADP account
2. by filling out ADP’s rollover authorization form
3. by calling ADP

Authorize via online process

Your plan may allow you to complete the rollover initiation process online. This can be a fast and convenient way to get your rollover started without having to mail any paperwork or making phone calls. You’ll want to confirm that your mailing and contact information on your account is correct so that your online submission is accurate. If you aren’t sure, you always have the option of initiating over the phone.

To start the online rollover initiation process, you’ll need to login to your ADP online account. Look for an option like “move assets”, “roll over money”, or “start a distribution”. These options can sometimes be hidden under an “actions” or “withdrawal” menu.

Ultimately, the option you want to select should explicitly say “rollover” and you’ll often need to specify that you want to move your funds “out of the plan” or “to another institution”.

Two other important tips to keep in mind while going through the online process:

1. 1. Opt for a direct rollover into an IRA at another institution — this is easier than an indirect rollover.
   2. You may be asked how much of your balance you want to roll over. It’s easier to do a full rollover so you don’t leave any money behind.

Authorize via Form

Rolling over via form allows you to avoid a human conversation but can sometimes get rejected which will prolong the process. If you’ve confirmed that your mailing address and contact information on your account is correct and that your plan is eligible for a rollover, initiating your rollover via form is worth considering. If you aren’t sure, you may want to initiate your rollover over the phone to avoid any issues during processing.

You can request the ADP rollover distribution form by calling ADP directly. Once you have the form, you’ll need to fill out, sign, and send it back to ADP by mail or fax. The mailing address and fax number can be found at the end of the form.

Authorize via Phone

If you prefer to speak to a ADP representative to make sure everything is good to go, you can also initiate your rollover over the phone. Contacting ADP directly over the phone allows you to correct any issues on your account, update your mailing address, and initiate the rollover all in one go. ADP’s phone number should be visible on an old account statement, website, or on the distribution form.

In order for your call to go smoothly, follow these tips:

1. 1. Set aside 30 minutes and a quiet space in which to make the call. Most of the time the call itself will take around 10 minutes, but there can often be a waiting time before you’re connected to an operator.
   2. If you have an old 401(k) statement, keep it handy. No worries if not — you’ll be asked for your social security number and some other personal details to verify your identity.
   3. Before you do the call, log into your new IRA account. Note down the following information:
      • Your IRA account number
      • Any other check-related instructions. These details are usually found on the IRA provider’s website in a “Funding” or “Rollover instructions” section and include things like the name of the institution to whom the check is made out (usually the full legal name of the IRA provider you’ve chosen).

Then place the call. Be prepared for a little hold time but in our experience the entire call should take no longer than 30 minutes.

Don’t forget to confirm your mailing address during the call. ADP will mail your rollover check to the address they have on file. If you need to update your address with them, just let the ADP rep know during the call and provide your current address.

STEP 4

Look out for your check in the mail and deposit it into your new IRA

ADP will only distribute your 401(k) funds directly to you, using the mailing address they have on file for your account. Once you get the check, it’s then up to you to deposit that check with your new IRA provider.

There are a few ways you can deposit your check depending on the provider:

• Mobile deposit — the easiest option is to check your providers mobile app to see if they have a mobile deposit option. Not all providers provide this option but it’s worth checking. Mobile deposits are the quickest option and typically take 3-5 business days to show up in your account.
• Deposit in person at a local branch — if your provider has a physical branch near by, you can also deposit the check in person. Checks deposited in person typically take 3-5 business days to show up in your account.
• Send the check by mail — you can also send the check by mail to the provider using the address you previously looked up. Funds that are mailed can take up to 15 business days to show up in your account.

STEP 5

Invest with your IRA appropriately

Remember there are two goals of rolling over an old 401(k) into an IRA — the first is to consolidate your 401(k) assets, and the second is to grow those assets by allocating them into investments that will increase in value over time.

Your very last step in executing a rollover is to make sure that second goal is being met and that the funds in your IRA are being appropriately invested. If you chose an automated IRA then this should happen automatically. That’s because as soon as your funds arrive they’ll be allocated into a portfolio that was created for you during the sign-up process for your new IRA account. You should still log in and check to make sure that’s the case, but usually there’s nothing more for you to do.

If you choose a self-directed account then you’ll have to invest the money yourself. Often the simplest option is to purchase a target-date retirement fund — this is an investment vehicle that puts your money into a combination of higher-risk, higher-return stocks and lower-risk, lower-return bonds. The exact mix changes as you age so that you have more stocks when you’re younger and less as you get older: because stocks generate higher returns but are more volatile we should own more of them early on when we can withstand their fluctuations in order to achieve their higher long-term returns.

Otherwise you can assemble a portfolio on your own by making trades.