[Nords]

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Originally Posted by summer2007 I'm trying my best to help my Dad out with his 401k to Roth IRA conversion. He has both his 401k and Roth IRA with Vanguard. Right now after talking to a few people at Vanguard they have him a little confused. The guy he was talking to last was telling him that whatever amount that he wants to convert that they send my Dad a check for that amount and then he sends the check back in to Vanguard to be put into his Roth account?? I thought they would just transfer the shares that he holds in his 401k over to his Roth IRA? Does this sound right to others that have converted from a 401k to a Roth to have a check sent to you and then you send it back to put in your Roth IRA?

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Originally Posted by Gotadimple The OP stated that Vanguard was telling him and Vanguard/Vanguard conversion would require they issue a check and then the OP send the check back to Vanguard. It's their rules and may have to do with the difference between their institutional accounts (401K) and commercial accounts (IRA).

I think it's another example of Vanguard's rock-bottom low-cost customer service in action.

Most custodians would create a conventional IRA account and roll the 401(k) into that. Then the custodian creates a Roth IRA account and converts the conventional IRA. Most companies probably need a piece of paper with a signature on it. Once they have the paperwork on file then Fidelity will even do the rest on their website.

I think the procedure will magically become easier/clearer as the OP's father gets to progressively higher levels of customer-service supervisors.

You might want to re-post this question at Ed Slott's IRA discussion board (Ed Slott and Company IRA Discussion Forum • Index page). The frequent posters have probably seen this before and will know how to deal with Vanguard's lack of knowledge of their own procedures. I guess the same would apply to the Bogleheads forum.