Moving an existing portfolio across

Moving an existing portfolio is mostly an exercise in record keeping. The investments themselves are the easy part; the paperwork is what takes the care.

Before anything moves

Write down what you hold, where it sits and what it is worth on the day you start. Keep the latest statement. Ask, in writing, how the transfer works, what it costs and whether anything has to be sold on the way.

Selling first and moving cash later is simpler but takes you out of the market for a spell. Moving the holdings themselves keeps you invested, though not every holding can travel. The team will tell you which applies to yours before you commit.

Keep every email in one folder until the transfer completes, and check the holdings that land against the list you wrote at the start. If something is missing, say so early. Records settle arguments that memory cannot.