Frequently Asked Questions.
Have a question? Have a few? We understand. Financial planning can be an intimidating process, & different companies offer different services.
We’ve compiled a few of the questions we hear the most; click on any buttons below for answers you might need. Most importantly, don’t hesitate to ask us if there are any questions you have that you don’t see here. It is easy to put off your financial planning, but not only do we think the process will give you peace of mind, it’s also empowering.
What types of accounts does Quest Investment Firm currently support?
Quest Investment Firm currently supports taxable investment accounts including individual, joint trust accounts. We also support Traditional IRAs, Roth IRAs and Simplified Employee Pension (SEP) IRAs, IRA transfers and 401(k) rollovers.
Who may open an account with Quest Investment Firm?
Any individual 18 or over, who is a legal U.S. resident or a U.S. citizen (with a permanent U.S. address) may open an account with Quest Investment Firm.
What is the minimum amount required to invest with Quest Investment Firm?
Our account minimum is $1000, which entitles you to a periodically rebalanced, diversified portfolio.
I live outside of the United States? Can I open an account?
We currently require all Quest Investment Firm clients to have a U.S. social security number or tax ID number and a permanent U.S. mailing address due to financial regulations.
Where is my money held?
Your assets are held in a brokerage account in your name at Shareholders Service Group, Inc (SSG). SSG Shareholders Service Group, Inc. (SSG) is a leading provider of trading, custody and brokerage services to Registered Investment Advisors with the proven leadership experience, capital position, and technology expertise necessary to serve our clients.
Can I transfer my existing IRA to Quest Investment Firm?
Yes. Please open an IRA account by contacting Quest Investment Firm and select the option to transfer an existing account. Complete the information we request and your IRA will automatically transfer in 5-10 business days. Please note that we will sell any positions in your existing IRA account upon transfer to Quest Investment Firm and reinvest for maximum investment advantage.
Can I transfer a portion of an existing brokerage account to Quest Investment Firm?
Yes. Please indicate the percentage of the partial transfer on the Account Transfer Form and we will take care of the account details from there.
Can I convert a Roth IRA into a traditional IRA account or vice versa?
We do not support conversions of traditional IRA assets to Roth IRA accounts at this time, nor do we support moving Roth IRA assets to a traditional IRA account. If you have an IRA that you are considering moving to Quest Investment Firm and converting to a Roth, please complete the Roth conversion at your current institution before moving the account to Quest Investment Firm.
Can I rollover a 401(k) into an IRA?
Yes. To roll over a 401(k) into an IRA, open an IRA account by contacting Quest Investment Firm and request a direct rollover option during the application process. Once your IRA account is open, you should contact your 401(k) provider and instruct them to send a check for the entire value of your 401(k). The check should be made payable to Shareholders Service Group and should reference your account name and your IRA account number. The check should be sent to:
Shareholders Service Group, Inc.
9845 Erma Road, Suite 312
San Diego, CA 92131
Although the rollover is not a taxable event, your 401(k) provider will issue you a 1099.
Can I consolidate a number of old 401(k) Rollover accounts into one?
You are welcome to consolidate multiple 401(k)s from previous employers into a single IRA account at Quest Investment Firm. We wish we could handle the 401(k) rollover process just like we can a normal brokerage account transfer, but 401(k) rollovers are a bit different. Your former employer has an exclusive relationship with your 401(k) administrator so the administrator will need to hear from you directly. If you have an IRA account open and funded with us already, you can use the rollover steps below to consolidate your 401(k) into your existing IRA account. If you do not have an IRA account with us yet, contact Quest Investment Firm to open an IRA account and request a direct rollover option. For the rollover process itself, the vast majority of 401(k) providers will liquidate your account and send a check per your instructions.
Please note that some 401(k)s contain both a traditional (pre-tax) component and Roth (post-tax) portion. If this is the case, you will need to open both a traditional IRA and a Roth IRA by contacting Quest Investment Firm. The traditional component of your 401(k) should be rolled over to your traditional IRA account and the Roth component of your 401(k) should be rolled over to your Roth IRA account. In both cases your account must meet our $500 minimum.
When you call or email the 401(k) administrator to request a rollover, they will ask you how you want the rollover check made payable and where you want it sent. Please ask them to make the check payable to our brokerage partner “Shareholders Service Group,” and reference your name and brokerage account number on the check. Please have them send the check to:
Shareholders Service Group, Inc.
9845 Erma Road, Suite 312
San Diego, CA 92131
What is an ETF?
An exchange-traded fund (ETF) is an investment fund that is traded on stock exchanges throughout the trading day, much like stocks and unlike mutual funds. An ETF holds assets such as stocks, commodities, or bonds, and trades close to its net asset value over the course of the trading day. Most ETFs track an index, such as the S&P 500 or MSCI EAFE. Quest Investment Firm evaluates thousands of ETFs for attractive investments based on their low cost, tax efficiency, and stock-like features.
How do you pick ETFs?
We look for ETFs with the lowest annual expense ratios, minimal tracking error, and sufficient liquidity. Unfortunately, many investors only focus on cost and end up with an ETF that doesn’t track its benchmark well. This defeats the purpose of optimizing the mix of asset classes. Poor liquidity can create real problems when it comes time to buy a house or pay for your kids’ college.