My wife has had an IRA account with Charles Schwab for the past 13 years. Last week we opened a Joint Tenant Account with them for further investing. When I tried to purchase Mutual Funds today, I was told the account is Restricted due to not having a physical address. I was given a Verification Supervisor who confirmed that we must show a utility bill in our name to establish an address to use the account. When I explained that is impossible for a full time RVer, she suggested we take our money elsewhere. And by the way, your wife's IRA that was originally opened to your previous home address wasn't caught when you changed address's so it will be closed in the next 30 days. Can anyone provide us with a reputable investment firm that has found a way around this?

Schwab is noted for this.  We've used Fidelity and Vanguard without any problems with the Escapees RV Club forwarding address.

We opened up Ira and brokerage act at  vanguard in July. No problems with addressing

If you are Escapee members, call the business office and tell them about the problem and they will help was this has been dealt with many times by the office. (936)327-8873

There is a way to use an alternate address with a relative to supply the physical requirements while using the mail service for your personal address. 

I would run, not walk, my money away from Schwab.  We use Vanguard and have never had a problem, including opening joint accounts as we began taking RMDs each year.

Thank you for your input. I phoned Schwab back and explained that my VA and Medicare is OK with my address, how can we resolve this. If I provide them with a statement from our present campground that we are here and paid up and if I include a letter stating this is my current LEGAL address but Livingston is our mailing address, they think that will satisfy their requirement. If not, I guess Vanguard gets a new customer. Thanks again for your prompt responses. Glad to find out there is an alternative.

  On 11/1/2018 at 10:35 AM, Monaco Larry said:

If I provide them with a statement from our present campground that we are here and paid up and if I include a letter stating this is my current LEGAL address but Livingston is our mailing address, they think that will satisfy their requirement.

But will that be your address next month? The law only requires a physical address which you can be reached via and that could be a close relative but I doubt that the campground is what they need. Wells-Fargo Advisors is another company that understands the law and there are several other investment firms that do. Schwab is the only one that keeps popping up in threads like this so you might be wiser to just move your funds. It would seem to me that the refusal to work with you might be some indication of the quality of their customer service? 

I agree with Kirk .  From the number of times over the past few years we've seen people come and ask this question regarding Schwab, I'd just get the transfer of funds going and be done with them.   And what state are you in - if it is one with a state income tax, that simple letter could end up cost you a lot of money.

It would seem that Schwab doesn't want your account and I wouldn't want to leave my money with them. Other firms will be glad to take care of you. In addition to the ones listed above T. Rowe Price would be a good choice. Good Luck

Multigenerational Wealth Strategies, LLC is just such a company. With an office in Escapees Headquarters in Livingston, Texas, Heather Brown as financial consultant is familiar with the full-time RVing lifestyle and has worked with many an Escapees member. She can be contacted at 800-260-1615 ext. 1.

Rather than get involved with potential legal fees I would just move the accounts.

This goes back to the Patriot Act which required every financial institution to have a physical address on record for every account. The Act expired many years ago and was not renewed, however many financial institutions have not changed their rules. I would think that your VA and Medicare info should satisfy Schwabs requirement but if it does not then I agree with the others that you should move your accounts. 

  On 11/3/2018 at 3:54 AM, Twotoes said:

This goes back to the Patriot Act which required every financial institution to have a physical address on record for every account. The Act expired many years ago and was not renewed, however many financial institutions have not changed their rules. ….

Although the original CIP requirement got its start as part of the Patriot Act, it has since been officially adopted by  the Federal Banking Regulators and is now a part of the CFR (code of federal regulations). So it does not go away because other portions of the Patriot Act were not renewed or turned into laws or regulations.

  On 11/3/2018 at 4:17 AM, JRP said:

So it does not go away because other portions of the Patriot Act were not renewed or turned into laws or regulations.

While this is true, there are ways around this requirement that do meet the legal test if the investment firm knows it and is willing to do something different from their norm. That has been the case for several years now. 

  On 11/3/2018 at 7:45 AM, Kirk Wood said:

While this is true, there are ways around this requirement that do meet the legal test if the investment firm knows it and is willing to do something different from their norm. That has been the case for several years now. 

yep, didn't mean to imply otherwise.  The same section that requires them to verify your physical residence address, clearly states an exception for those who have no physical street address, they are allowed to provide a relative or close friend's address for CIP verification.