I have a 401k (both traditional and roth) at Fidelity and recently tried a roll-over from the Fidelity 401k to Vanguard IRA (Rollover IRA and Roth IRA). When I called Fidelity to request a roll-over after setting up the IRA accounts at Vanguard, they told me that there were only two options for the roll-over:
(a) I first move the 401k to Fidelity IRA and then do a wire-transfer from Fidelity IRA to Vanguard IRA. This option, however, will incur a fee.
(b) Fidelity sends a check to me and then I am responsible for sending it to Vanguard.
I do not like either option and want to have a direct transfer -- i.e., Fidelity directly sending the checks to Vanguard. The direct transfer was also the option advised by Vanguard when I created IRA accounts at Vanguard. But, the Fidelity agent said that they could send the check only to the addresses on their file and that the Vanguard address is not on the file.
Is it generally a case? Most articles about roll-over say that I should necessarily use "direct roll-over" but I was surprised that this was not available at Fidelity. Has anybody tried a rollover from Fidelity 401k to Vanguard IRA? What option did you choose then?
Thanks,