Frequently asked questions

Online

1. Choose the type of account you want. Then complete our E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley brokerage or Morgan Stanley Private Bank online application.
2. For bank and brokerage accounts, you can either fund your account instantly online or mail in your direct deposit.

By Phone

Call 800-387-2331

By Mail

1. Download an application and then print it out.
2. Complete and sign the application.
3. Send the application with a check made payable to E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley or Morgan Stanley Private Bank (depending on the type of account you're opening) to the appropriate address.

Consolidating your assets at E*TRADE is easy. You'll have the opportunity to electronically transfer specific assets or an entire brokerage account from another firm during the application process.

Transfer a brokerage account in three easy steps:

1. Open an account in minutes.
2. Request an Electronic Transfer or mail a paper request.
3. Full brokerage transfers submitted electronically are typically completed in ten business days.
   Paper/mail requests for account transfers generally take three to six weeks, depending on how quickly the delivering financial institution is able to process your transfer request.
   We'll send you an online alert as soon as we've received and processed your transfer.

Transfer an existing IRA or roll over a 401(k):

1. Open an account in minutes.
2. Request an Electronic Transfer or mail a paper request.
3. Full brokerage transfers submitted electronically are typically completed in ten business days.
   Paper/mail requests for account transfers generally take three to six weeks, depending on how quickly the delivering financial institution is able to process your transfer request.
   We'll send you an online alert as soon as we've received and processed your transfer.

Simply call us at 800-387-2331.

You can start trading within your brokerage or IRA account after you have funded your account and those funds have cleared.

Go now to fund your account.

E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley offers $0 commissions for online US-listed stock, ETF, mutual fund, and options trades - other rates and fees may apply.

View all rates and fees.

Choose the method that works best for you:

1. Transfer money electronically: Use our Transfer Money service to transfer within 3 business days.
2. By check: You can easily deposit many types of checks.
3. By wire transfer: Wire transfers are fast and secure.
4. Transfer an account: Move an account from another firm.

Go now to fund your account.

Funds availability will depend on the method of transfer:

1. Transfer money electronically: Up to 3 business days.
2. By check: Up to 5 business days.
3. By wire transfer: Same business day if received before 6 p.m. ET.
4. Transfer an account: Electronically - 10+ business days. Mail - 3 to 6 weeks.

For additional details, visit our fund my account page.

Yes, you can roll over your 401(k) or other employer-sponsored plan to an E*TRADE IRA.

Learn about 4 options for rolling over your old employer plan.

Yes, we provide access to a large number of high-yielding, FDIC-insured brokered CDs and other fixed-income products through E*TRADE. You can learn more about brokered CDs, and once you're a customer, you can log on and visit the Bond Resource Center to learn more.

There are no minimum funding requirements on brokerage accounts.

The most convenient way to deposit a check is through E*TRADE Mobile check deposit feature.  Make sure the check is payable to you (in the same name as appears on your account), or to Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC for deposits to your brokerage accounts or Morgan Stanley Private Bank for deposits to your bank account. Note: Mobile check deposit maximum is $250,000 per day.²

Have additional questions on check deposits? Learn more

Once you have set up and initiated a transfer from an external funding account, funds may take up to three business days to hit your account.  Internal transfers (unless to an IRA) are immediate. Learn more

Looking for other funding options? See funding methods