Guides & Forms

 Guides
 Task Guides  What form do I need?
Update my Monthly/Quarterly/Annual Income Distributions
  1. Distribution Reinvestment Program
    • Product Sponsor specific Distribution Form and fund must have active DRP program
    • Please check with product sponsor to see if reinvestment program is open.
  2. Cash to Address/Bank/Third Party
    • FTR Income Distribution Form

    Or

    • Letter of instruction
      • Information to locate account: Name and Account # or SSN
      • Amount
      • Where to send
      • Type of Distribution (Normal, Premature, Etc.)
      • Must identify if withholding should be taken. (If not identified FTR will default to 10% federal for traditional and SEP.)
      • Investors Signature
  3. Transfer to Another Custodian/Qualified plan
    • FTR Income Distribution Form – Must be Medallion Signature Guaranteed by the accepting custodian.

    Or

    • Accepting Custodian's letter of acceptance clearly documenting income distributions only.
Pay my FTR Custodian Fee
  1. The FTR Custodian Fee may be paid in the following ways:
    • Checks must be made payable to First Trust Retirement
    • Include a check for the fee at the time of account establishment (please indicate on IRA application)
    • Deduct the fee out of the initial investment (please indicate on IRA application)
    • Enroll in the automatic Custodian Fee deduction and allow the fee to be deducted from the Undirected Cash account or from the reinvested income distributions
    • Prepay the Custodian Admin Fee any time through the year by submitting the Opt Out form
    • The Opt In/Out Form must be received by mail. For prior year investments the form must be received by January 15th of each year; for investments made in the current year the Opt In/Out Form must be received by October 15th and will then need to be received by January 15th for the following years.
    • Some product sponsor's cover the first year's fee. Please confirm with them prior to submitting fee payment.
    • Please see the custodian fee section of the website or more information

    Please Note: If we receive a fee payment and the current year fee has already been satisfied for that year, the fee payment will be designated to cover the next year’s fee. Additionally, before an account transfers custodians, the fee must be paid prior to the transfer occurring.

Change my Beneficiaries
  1. Must complete the FTR Beneficiary Change Form
Update my Address/ Name
  1. Preferred Private/Publicly Traded
    • Client Specific Paperwork is required
    • Or contact us at 855-387-3847
  2. Non-Preferred Publicly Traded
    • FTR Account Servicing form
    • Or contact us at 855-387-3847
Update Broker Dealer/ Representative
  1. Preferred Private/Publicly Traded
    • Client Specific Paperwork is required
  2. Non-Preferred Publicly Traded
    • FTR Account Servicing form
Take RIA Fee from Undirected Cash
  1. Complete FTR RIA Fee Request form (click here)

  2. The RIA Fee will only be taken from the Undirected Cash Account
    • The amount available in the Undirected Cash Account may not fully satisfy the RIA fee.
  3. A new RIA Fee Request Form must be submitted for each RIA Fee Request.
Transfer Ownership to/ from another IRA Owner within FTR
  1. To an inherited IRA
    • Preferred Private/Publicly Traded
      • FTR IRA Application
      • Product Sponsor Change of Ownership/Transfer form
    • Please Note: Please verify with the fund sponsor if a death certificate is required in order to transfer.  In addition, please verify with the fund sponsor if the transfer form can be received via fax.
    • Non-Preferred Publicly Traded
      • FTR Change of Ownership/Transfer form
      • Death certificate/Divorce Decree/QDRO required in order to transfer.
  2. To a new FTR IRA account within the same product sponsor
    • Preferred Private/Publicly Traded
      • FTR IRA Application
      • Product Sponsor Change of Ownership/Transfer form
    • Please Note: Verify with fund sponsor if transfer form can be received via fax
    • Non-Preferred Publicly Traded
      • FTR Change of Ownership/Transfer form
      • FTR IRA Application
  3. To a new FTR IRA account & requesting an immediate redemption after transfer
    • Preferred Private/Publicly Traded
      • FTR IRA Withdrawal/Distribution Request Form
  4. Please Note: Step 2 must be filled out for a new inherited IRA account transfer. FTR does not require the IRA Application if the account is being redeemed immediately after transfer
    • Product Sponsor Change of Ownership/Transfer Form
    • Product Sponsor Redemption Form

    Please note: verify with fund sponsor if redemption program is open.

    • Non-Preferred Publicly Traded
      • FTR IRA Liquidation Request Form
      • Signed W-9
      • Death certificate/Divorce Decree/QDRO required in order to transfer.
      Please Note: step 2 must be filled out for a new inherited IRA account transfer. FTR does not require the IRA Application if the account is being redeemed immediately after transfer.
Transfer of Assets to First Trust Retirement
  1. Preferred Private/Publicly Traded
    • Transfer of Assets/Rollover to FTR from an outside IRA with new product
      • FTR IRA Application
      •  FTR Transfer and Rollover Request form
      • Product Sponsor Subscription Agreement
      Please Note: If FTR account already exists within that Product Sponsor and is the same IRA plan type, FTR does not require the IRA application.
    • Transfer of Assets/Rollover from FTR in one product sponsor to a new FTR account with a different product sponsor
      • IRA Application
      • Transfer and Rollover Request form
      • Product sponsor Subscription Document
      Please Note: If FTR account already exists within that Product Sponsor and is the same IRA plan type, FTR does not require the IRA application.
    • Transfer-in-kind/Rollover  to FTR from an outside IRA within same product
      • IRA Application
      • Transfer and Rollover Request Form
      Please Note: If FTR account already exists within that Product Sponsor and is the same IRA plan type, FTR does not require the IRA application.
  2. Non-Preferred Publicly Traded
    • Transfer of Assets/Rollover to FTR from an outside IRA with new product
      • FTR IRA Application
      •  FTR Transfer and Rollover Request form
      • Product Sponsor Subscription Agreement
      Please Note: If FTR account already exists within that Product Sponsor and is the same IRA plan type, FTR does not require the IRA application.
    • Transfer of Assets/Rollover from FTR in one product sponsor to a new FTR account with a different product sponsor
      • IRA Application
      • Transfer and Rollover Request form
      • Product sponsor Subscription Document
      Please Note: If FTR account already exists within that Product Sponsor and is the same IRA plan type, FTR does not require the IRA application.
    • Transfer-in-kind/Rollover  to FTR from an outside IRA within same product
      • IRA Application
      • Transfer and Rollover Request Form
      Please Note: If FTR account already exists within that Product Sponsor and is the same IRA plan type, FTR does not require the IRA application.
Transfer Ownership to outside custodian from existing  FTR account
  1. Transfer of Assets/Rollover from FTR to a new accepting custodian
    • Custodian or Sponsor Transfer Form
    • Please check with the product sponsor to see if sponsor transfer forms are required or optional.
  2. Transfer-in-kind/Rollover  to outside custodian
    • Custodian or Sponsor Transfer Form
    • Please check with the product sponsor to see if sponsor transfer forms are required or optional.
    Please Note: if wanting to transfer-in-kind and liquidate the CASH account, indicate full transfer on the custodian transfer form. There must be a letter of acceptance and signature from the receiving custodian.
Establishing a New Account

Please Note: if investor currently has an IRA in one plan type (i.e. Traditional) with FTR and wishes to open an IRA in a different plan type (i.e. Roth or, SEP), FTR requires a new IRA Application. A new IRA Application is required for each new product sponsor.

  1. Funded by Personal Contribution
    • FTR IRA Application Form
    • Funding
    • Product Sponsor Subscription Document
  2. Funded by Transfer of Assets/Rollover
    • FTR IRA Application Form
    • FTR Transfer and Rollover Request Form or funding if a rollover
    • Product Sponsor Subscription Document
  3. Funded  by Transfer in Kind
    • FTR IRA Application Form
    • FTR Transfer and Rollover Request Form
  4. Funded by NOW account-Transfer of Assets
    • FTR Additional Investment Form or IRA Application
    • FTR  Transfer/Rollover form
    • Product Sponsor Subscription Agreement
Please Note: Indicate on the subscription document, additional investment form, or the FTR Transfer/Rollover form that the funding is coming from the NOW account
Withdrawal/Redeem Funds
  1. From Product Sponsor Account
    • Please verify with product sponsor to see if redemption program is open.
    • FTR Withdrawal/RMD Form or Letter of instruction if going to Address of Record and needs to be Medallion Signature Guaranteed
    • Product Sponsor Redemption Form
    • Letter of Instruction (The below must be provided.)
      • Information to locate account: Name and Account # or SSN
      • Amount
      • Where to send
      • Type of Distribution (Normal, Premature, Etc.)
      • Must identify if withholding should be taken. (If not identified FTR will default to 10% federal for traditional and SEP.)

      • Investors Signature

  2. From just Undirected Cash/NOW Account
    • FTR Withdrawal/RMD Form
    • Call our Customer Service line (855-387-3847) to redeem cash from your Undirected Cash account over the phone from 8AM to 5 PM CST  (The below criteria must be met).
      • Cannot be sent anywhere besides address of record or bank of record, that has not been updated in the past 30 days
      • Cannot be a IRA withdrawal over $50,000 per day
      • If any of these criteria are not met, the redeem from the Undirected Cash account must be submitted in writing, and requires a signature guarantee.
      • Redemptions cannot be processed on the first or last business day of the month due to the Undirected Cash/NOW calculating dividends.
  3. Required Minimum Distribution (RMD)
    • Redeem RMD from Undirected Cash/NOW
      • FTR Withdrawal/RMD Form
      • Call our Customer Service line (855-387-3847) to redeem cash from your Undirected Cash account over the phone from 8AM to 5M CST (The below criteria must be met).
        • Cannot be sent anywhere besides address of record or bank of record, that has not been updated in the past 30 days

        • Cannot be an IRA withdrawal over $50,000.00 per day

        • If any of these criteria are not met, the redeem from the Undirected Cash account must be submitted in writing, and requires a signature guarantee.
        • Redemptions cannot be processed on the first or last business day of the month due to the Undirected Cash/NOW calculating dividends.
    • Redeem RMD from Live/Product Sponsor Fund
      • Please verify with Product sponsor to see if redemption program is open.
        • FTR Withdrawal/RMD Form
        • Product Sponsor Redemption Form
    • Fund closed to redemptions--RMD can be transferred to a Non-Qualified account
      • FTR Withdrawal/RMD Form with “Transfer in Kind my shares to my non-qualified account” marked in Step 5
      • If Non-Qualified account does not exist, a Product Sponsor Transfer or Subscription document form is required to build the new account type outside of FTRs forms
Please note: This can cause a taxable event. Please consult a tax advisor
Sell Shares of a Publicly Listed REIT
  1. Liquidation Request Form submitted by mail or fax
  2. Call our Customer Service line (855-387-3847) to sell shares over the phone from 8AM to 5 PM CST.
    • Only IRA Holders can request phone liquidations
    • Cannot be sent anywhere besides the NOW account, address of record or bank of record, that has not been updated in the past 30 days
    • Cannot be a IRA withdrawal over $50,000 per day

    • If any of these criteria are not met, the sale of IRA shares must be submitted in writing, and requires a signature guarantee.

    Please note: Shares will be sold the day after the request has been received in good order.  If request submitted via paperwork, the shares will be sold the day following the paperwork being received.  If request submitted via telephone, the shares will be sold the day following the phone call being received.

 Form Guides   What form fields are required?
FTR Additional Investment Form

The below fields are REQUIRED when requesting an Additional Investment. All other fields are optional

  1. NAME & ADDRESS
    • IRA Holder Name
    • Social Security Number or Account Number must be provided
    • Residential Address
  2. IRA CONTRIBUTION INFORMATION (required)
    • Type of IRA to be funded and the contribution type of the additional investment. Required to indicate one of the following acceptable account types:
      • Traditional IRA
      • Roth IRA
      • Simplified Employee Pension Plan (SEP)
      • Beneficiary IRA
      • First Trust Retirement does not currently offer SIMPLE IRA accounts
  3. INVESTMENT INSTRUCTION
    • Must identify the product that the additional investment is funding.
    • Must provide the dollar amount or percentage
    • If using percentages across multiple products, the percentage must equal 100%
  4. SIGNATURE REQUIRED
    • Additional Investment Form must be signed and dated by the IRA Holder
FTR IRA Application

The below fields are REQUIRED when requesting an IRA. All other fields are optional

  1. NAME & ADDRESS (all fields identified below are required)
    • IRA Holder Name
    • Residential Address
    • Social Security Number
    • Date of Birth

    Please Note:If anything differs for on the IRA Application from information on Subscription Agreement, FTR will default to the information on the Product Sponsor's Subscription Agreement.

  2. IRA CONTRIBUTION INFORMATION (required)
    • Type of IRA and contribution type to be established. Please indicate one of the following acceptable account types
      • Traditional IRA
      • Roth IRA
      • Simplified Employee Pension Plan (SEP)
      • Beneficiary IRA
      • Inherited IRA section required if establishing Inherited IRA
      • Beneficiary relationship selection required in transferring inherited/beneficiary assets from another IRA

    Please Note: First Trust Retirement does not currently offer SIMPLE IRA accounts.

  3. DESIGNATION OF BENEFICIARY
    • Please see FTR- Beneficiary Change Form for this section’s requirements
  4. SPOUSAL CONSENT
    • Only required if the IRA Holder resides in a Community property or marital property states
  5. FEE INFORMATION
    • Some Product Sponsors cover the first year fee depending on investment or investment amount. Please confirm with Product Sponsor prior to account establishment
    • The initial fee should be included at the time of account establishment if you do not currently have any additional open First Trust Retirement accounts
    • If you wish to deduct the fee from the funding used to establish the account, please identify this in Step 6: INVESTMENT INSTRUCTIONS in the Annual Account Maintenance Fee field
    • The Custodian Fee may be paid by you directly; or the Custodian may deduct the fee from your IRA or from your monthly distributions. Annual fees will be charged for any calendar year during which the IRA is open. This fee is not prorated for periods of less than one year
    • Please see the FTR Financial Disclosure for more clarification
  6. INVESTMENT INSTRUCTIONS
    • Must identify the product that the IRA account is being established within
    • Must provide the dollar amount or percentage
    • If using percentages across multiple products, the percentage must equal 100%
  7. INCOME DISTRIBUTION INSTRUCTIONS
    • Please see FTR-Income Distribution Form Requirements for specifics
  8. SIGNATURE REQUIRED
    • IRA Application must be signed and dated by the IRA Holder
FTR Beneficiary Change Form
The below fields are REQUIRED when requesting a beneficiary change. All other fields are optional
  1. NAME & ADDRESS
    • IRA Owner Name
    • SSN
    • Account number to locate account (if account exists)
  2. DESIGNATION OF BENEFICIARIES
    • You must specifically list the beneficiaries' names
    • Date of Birth is preferred for all beneficiaries. It is required for a Spousal beneficiary only
    • A Guardian or Custodian must be provided if beneficiary is a minor
    • Relationship is required
    • Must mark primary or secondary
    • Primary and secondary beneficiary percentage designations must each total 100%
  3. SPOUSAL CONSENT
    • Only required if the IRA Holder resides in a Community Property or Marital Property states
  4. SIGNATURE REQUIRED
    • Beneficiary Change Form must be signed and dated by the IRA Holder
FTR Income Distribution Form
The below fields are REQUIRED when requesting an Income Distribution. All other fields are optional
  1. IRA OWNER INFORMATION
    • Name
    • Tax ID OR Account Number
  2. INCOME DISTRIBUTION INSTRUCTIONS
    • A fund must be selected
    • Must check "Please pay out my monthly/quarterly/annual income distributions."
  3. INCOME DISTRIBUTION REPORTING
    • One option must be checked.
      • Option selected must be for the correct IRA type
      • If it is an inherited IRA distribution (not including spousal), the distribution will always be coded as Due to Death.
  4. PAYMENT INSTRUCTIONS
    • Selection must be made
    • If ACH is selected, Deposit Slips and Starter Checks are NOT acceptable. If received FTR will reject and request a voided check or a Letter of Instruction on bank letterhead signed by the branch manager with valid ABA and account information
    • Signature guarantee NOT required if sending recurring income distributions to new bank instructions
    • For a Trustee to Trustee transfer, this form must include the payee name, account number and address, be signed and Signature Guaranteed by the accepting custodian OR must include the custodian's signed Letter of Acceptance.  This custodial sign off is only required at time of distribution establishment.  Please note, this form cannot be notarized.
  5. INCOME TAX WITHHOLDING
    • If no box is checked and no percentage is written in, FTR must default to withholding 10%
      • NOTE: We default to 0% withholding for Roth accounts OR accounts transferring the value to the NOW account
    • The IRA Holder can withhold from a Roth distribution IF they specify the percentage
    • If requesting to have your income distributions sent to another custodian as a Trustee to trustee transfer, no withholding will be applied. This is a Non-Reportable movement, as long as all supplied custodial sign off is included.
  6. SIGNATURE
    • IRA Holder must sign
    • Date is NOT required
    • If POA has signed and is not listed in the registration or memo, we need a Signature Guarantee OR POA Docs
FTR Transfer/Rollover Form Requirements
The below fields are REQUIRED when requesting a FTR Transfer/Rollover. All other fields are optional
  1. NAME & ADDRESS
    • IRA Owner Name
    • SSN
    • Account number to locate account (if account exists)
    • If this form is received with an IRA application, FTR will utilize the information from the application as well
  2. CURRENT CUSTODIAN NAME & ADDRESS
    • Current Custodians Name
    • Account number of resigning custodian to be transferred
  3. TYPE OF TRANSFER/ROLLOVER
    • One of these options must be selected
  4. TRANSFER INSTRUCTIONS TO CURRENT CUSTODIANS
    • One of these options must be selected
    • Must select all or partial
      • If you select partial, a dollar amount is required
  5. SIGNATURE REQUIRED
    • IRA Holder signature is required
    • Sometimes the IRA Holder’s signature must be medallion signature guaranteed. Please confirm with the resigning custodian prior to submitting to FTR
    • Sometimes the date is required by outside custodians, but we will not reject if it is missing
FTR Withdrawal/RMD Form Requirements

The below fields are REQUIRED for Withdrawal/ RMD. All other fields are optional

  1. IRA OWNER INFORMATION
    • Name
    • Tax ID OR Account Number
    • If address provided is different from the one on file, and you are redeeming the account, we will require a Signature Guarantee to process a redemption within 30 days of an address change. If the address is changed outside the 30 day window, NO Signature Guarantee is required
  2. PRODUCT SELECTION
    •  A fund must be selected (multiple can be selected)
  3. ONE TIME WITHDRAWAL INSTRUCTIONS
    • IRA Type must be selected
    • Must check if it's a Full Redemption or Partial Redemption
      • If partial amount is marked, dollar OR share amount is required
  4. ONE TIME WITHDRAWAL DISTRIBUTION REASON
    • One option must be checked
    • Option Selected must be for the correct IRA type
    • If it is an inherited IRA (non-spousal) it must be coded as a Redemption Due to Death
    • This form cannot be used for Transfers of Assets out of FTR
    • If recharacterizing or converting to a different type of IRA, a new IRA application form is required for the new IRA plan type
  5. RMD INSTRUCTIONS
    • IRA Type must be selected
      • If Beneficiary IRA is selected, Step 6 must be completed
  6. BENEFICIARY IRA RMD OPTIONS
    • One option must be selected:
      • RMD had not started for the original/deceased account holder
        1. Must select options within this option
          1. Lump Sum, +5 years or Life
          2. If spouse, recalculated, not recalculated
      • The original account owner died after the IRA RMD beginning date and RMDs had started
        1. Must select option within this option
          1. Take distributions based on my life expectancy
          2. Take distribution in the manner elected by original account owner
    • Required information for Beneficiary RMD Calculation
      • All information remaining in step 6 is required for Beneficiary RMD Option
  7. PAYMENT METHOD
    • Selection must be made
    • If ACH is selected
      • Deposit Slips and Starter Checks are NOT acceptable. FTR will reject and request a voided check or a Letter of Instruction on bank letterhead signed by the branch manager with valid ABA and Account information
      • Must be signature guaranteed if adding new bank instructions and redeeming within 30 days
    • Must be signature guaranteed if address has been changed within 30 days and redeeming
  8. INCOME TAX WITHHOLDING
    • For Traditional, SEP or Beneficiary IRAs: If no box is checked and no percent is written in, we default to withholding 10%
    • You cannot withhold less than 10%
    • For Roth IRAs or transfers to Undirected Cash Accounts: We Default to 0%
    • The IRA Holder can withhold from a Roth distribution IF they specify the percentage
    • Internal transfers within FTR across product sponsors will not have Withholdings taken
    • If requesting to have your IRA Withdrawal/distributions sent to another custodian as a trustee to trustee transfer, no withholding will be applied. This is a Non-Reportable movement, as long as all supplied custodial sign off is included
  9. SUBSTITUTE W-9
    • This section contains verbiage in which is included in your signoff that you certify that the taxpayer identification number shown on the Transfer Agreement is trust, correct and complete.
  10. SIGNATURE
    • IRA Holder must sign
    • If POA has signed and is not listed in the registration or memo, we need Signature Guarantee OR POA Docs
FTR Non-Preferred Publicly Traded Change of Ownership Form

The below fields are REQUIRED when requesting a Change of Ownership on an IRA. All other fields are optional

  1. TRANSFEROR NAME & ADDRESS
    • IRA Holder Name
    • Social Security Number
    • Date of Birth
    • Existing account number
  2. TRANSFEREE NAME & ADDRESS
    • New IRA Holder Name
    • Social Security Number
    • Date of Birth
    • Residential Address
  3. IRA PLAN TYPE TO ESTABLISH AND TRANSFER TO
    • Type of IRA and contribution type to be established that is receiving the transfer. Please indicate one of the following acceptable account types
      • Traditional IRA
      • Roth IRA
      • Simplified Employee Pension Plan (SEP)
      • Beneficiary IRA 
  4. PRODUCT TRANSFER INSTRUCTIONS
    • Must identify the product that the IRA account is being transferred.
    • Must provide the dollar amount or percentage
    • If using percentages across multiple products, the percentage must equal 100%
  5. REASON FOR TRANSFER
    • Must mark an option
      • In the event of divorce or separation, a certified copy of a divorce decree, qualified domestic relations order (QDRO), or court order must be provided
      • In the event of a transfer due to death, please provide a copy of the death certificate in lieu of signature for Transferor.
  6. DESIGNATION OF BENEFICIARY
    • Please see FTR- Beneficiary Change Form for this section's requirements
  7. SPOUSAL CONSENT
    • Only required if the IRA Holder resides in a Community property or marital property states
  8. FEE INFORMATION
    • The initial fee should be included at the time of account establishment if you do not currently have any additional open First Trust Retirement accounts
    • The Custodian Fee may be paid by you directly; or the Custodian may deduct the fee from your IRA or from your monthly distributions.  Annual fees will be charged for any calendar year during which the IRA is open.  This fee is not prorated for periods of less than one year
    • Please see the FTR Financial Disclosure for more clarification
  9. INCOME DISTRIBUTION OPTIONS
    • Please see FTR-Income Distribution Form Requirements for specifics
  10. FINANCIAL ADVISOR INFORMATION
    • If changing broker dealer at the time of transfer, this section must be completed
    • Must provide financial institution name, advisor name, branch number, and financial advisor ID number
    • If this section is left blank, the current broker dealer information will follow from the existing IRA to the new IRA.
  11. SIGNATURE REQUIRED
    • Change of ownership must be signed and dated by the transferor and the transferee
    • In the event of a transfer due to death, please provide a copy of the death certificate in lieu of signature for Transferor
    • All signatures must be Medallion Signature Guaranteed

    Please Note: First Trust Retirement does not currently offer SIMPLE IRA accounts.

 Forms
Preferred Private/Publicly Traded Product Sponsors

Non-Preferred Public Traded Product Sponsors

  • f/k/a Griffin-American Healthcare REIT II, Inc.

  • f/k/a Wells Real Estate Trust II, Inc.

  • f/k/a Cole Corporate Income Trust, Inc.

  • f/k/a ARC Healthcare Trust, Inc.
  •