Step-by-Step Guide to Moving Your Account to a Trust

• Step 1: Legally Establish Your Trust

  • Your trust must be legally drafted and signed with your attorney before starting.

  • Create a digital copy of your trust documents to upload during the application.

• Step 2: Gather Your Required Information

  • You will need the trust's official name, the date it was established, and its Tax Identification Number (TIN/EIN).

  • You will also need the personal information of all current trustees.

• Step 3: Prepare the Necessary Document Pages

  • Do not upload the entire trust packet. Vanguard only needs specific pages to verify the trust:

    • For a Trust Under Agreement (Standard Trust): The page showing the trust's name and date, the page listing the current trustees' names, and all of the signature pages.

    • For a Trust Under Will: The page creating the trust, the trustees' names, the testator's signature, and proof the will was filed with probate court (such as a court stamp).

    • For Successor Trustees: If you are taking over for a previous trustee, you must include proof of why they are no longer acting (like a death certificate or letter of incapacitation).

    • For Sub-Trusts: If you are creating a sub-trust (like a marital or bypass trust), include the specific pages outlining its creation and its trustees.

• Step 4: Open the Trust Account

  • Existing Clients: Log in to your Vanguard account online, select "Open an Account," choose "Trust Account," and upload your document pages.

  • New Clients: Call the transition number at 877-672-6037 to set up your profile.

  • Note on Timeline: It takes Vanguard 5 business days to review and open the account once your application is submitted.

• Step 5: Transfer and Fund the Account

  • From an Existing Vanguard Account: Once the trust account is active, request an "in-kind" asset transfer (or Change of Ownership) to move your mutual funds, stocks, or ETFs from your individual account directly into the trust without selling them.

  • From an Outside Bank or Firm: Link your bank account using your routing and account numbers, or initiate an external account transfer to pull assets from another brokerage.

• Step 6: Choose Your Investments

  • Once the assets are in the trust, you can manage them as needed. Keep in mind that Vanguard ETFs can be bought for as low as $1, while most Vanguard mutual funds have a $3,000 minimum investment.