IB資產轉移

　　去年寫過一篇「IB的風險」，討論過IB LLC（Interactive Brokers LLC）與IB HK（Interactive Brokers Hong Kong Limited）的分別。IB LLC除了有SIPC的五十萬美元保障外，還受到倫敦勞埃德（Lloyd's of London）保險公司最高三千萬美元的補充保障。可是，IB LLC在2015年將香港客戶由IB LLC轉到IB HK ，而IB HK只受香港證券和期貨委員會（Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission）監管，換句話說，並不在SIPC或勞埃德的保護範圍內。所以，IB HK與香港其他證券行一樣，只有低得可憐的十五萬港元「投資者賠償基金」保障，而且只限港股！

　　如果香港人想開IB LLC戶口，要有外地身份證明（例如澳門、台灣等）與住址證明。但如果已有IB HK戶口，想用移民理由轉到IB LLC戶口可以嗎？當時，我使用IB的Message Centre向IB客服發問，得到的回覆如下：

Dear Mr. XXXXX,

Thank you for contacting Interactive Brokers’ client services team.

To transfer your account from IB HK to IBLLC US, you would have to open a new account with Interactive Brokers LLC with your residential address in Taiwan. After that, you may submit us a ticket to request the full internal account transfers. The full internal account transfer would transfer all your assets (including positions and cash) from the IB HK account to IBLLC US account. Please note that the process of internal transfer is manual and it may take one to two weeks for the transfer to complete.”

If you have any further questions, please feel free to respond to this ticket so that I may further assist. 

Regards,
XXXXX
Interactive Brokers Client Service

上述的意思是，如果要將IB HK轉到 IB LLC，必須先開一個全新的IB LLC戶口，然後經Message Centre書面要求內部資產轉移，由IB的職員用人手方式，將舊有IB HK的全部資產轉移到新開的IB LLC戶口。

當時，我知道了就算，並沒有將自己的IB HK戶口轉移。主要的考慮點有五項：

　　1. IB作為全球規模最大、排名第一的網路證券商，在可見的將來倒閉的機會不大。

　　2. IB HK與其他大部份證券商一樣，都將客戶資產隔離於專用銀行或託管帳戶中。分離客戶資產的好處在於當證券商違約或破產，而客戶沒有借入資金或股票、及未持有期貨頭寸時，客戶資產可以返還給客戶。這其實已是第一重保障。

　　3. 香港作為國際金融中心，資金出入較台灣自由。

　　4. 日後在遺產稅的處理上，經IB HK處理，一定比直接與總部在美國的IB LLC交涉容易得多。這是最重要的一點。

　　5. 懶！

　　但是，隨著最近香港局勢的發展，開設離岸戶口，將資產調離香港避險，已是一個大趨勢（原因不需多說吧）。IB HK內的資產，始終還是在香港的金融體系內，上述五大要點、缺一不可的考慮，已不再重要。所以，我終於在上個月「的起心肝」，開設了一個全新的IB LLC戶口（開設帳戶的過程一切順利，只是批核後不斷收到電郵要求我入金，實在有點煩）。

　　然後，用IB Message Centre發出一個Ticket，要求資產轉移。IB的職員很快回復如下：

Dear Mr. XXXXX,

Please be aware, Full manual account transfer from an Individual account (UXXXXXXX) to Individual account (UXXXXXXX) is subjected to following: 

A. Making a transfer request is not a guarantee that it will be approved and processed. 

B. After the initial review is complete, you will be required to submit additional items. 

C. Once all required documentation has been returned, transfers typically take 3 to 5 weeks to receive approval and process. 

D. It is important to note, accounts which have option positions and do not have the exact same title and tax ID will not be allowed to transfer. 

Kindly reply by stating "I Agree" in this web ticket if you wish to proceed with this transfer request. 

Regards,
XXXXXX
IBKR Client Services

總共有四點說明，A點是IB循例「戴頭盔」的說詞，B點是說之後還有文件或程序要做（我原本以為只是說說而已，原來真旳要！），C點是說過程需三至五個星期才能完成，D點主要是說Option類資產不能轉移。

在我回覆了「I Agree」之後，IB就叫我等待：

Dear Mr. XXXXX, 

Your transfer request has been submitted for an initial review. You will receive a reply via this ticket with the details and list of requirements as soon as we have an update. 

Regards,
XXXXX
IBKR Client Services

也不用等多久，第二天IB已有了進一步要求：

Dear Mr. XXXXX, 

In order to proceed with the transfer, please do the following: 

1) Complete the LOA form which we have sent to the registered email id and return it with a Government issued valid signed photo ID of the account holder. Kindly note, signature on LOA should match with the ID document provided. 

2) Verbal verification from account holder (XXXXXXXXXX) needs to be completed over phone. Hence please contact us via phone and you can give this ticket number TXXXXXX as reference to the representative. Our Contact numbers are available on the following webpage.: LINK../support 

You can send the documents as a reply to this web ticket. 

Please note that: 

......

......

Regards, XXXXX IBKR Client Services

後面的一大堆廢話不用去理，IB主要是要求我做三件事：

　　1. 簽署並傳回一份LOA表格（Account Transfer Due to Client Relocation form）。

　　2. 與LOA表格一起，傳回一份「Government issued valid signed photo ID of the account holder」。

　　3. 致電IB進行口頭驗證。

第一點與第三點還容易做到，第二點可難到我了，甚麼叫「Government issued valid signed photo ID of the account holder」？我猜是一份證明我身份的政府文件，上面有齊相片與簽名。但我找不到這種東西呀。有的文件有簽名（例如台灣驗證過的結婚證書），有的文件有相片（例如台灣身份證），但有齊兩樣在同一頁上的，好像沒有呢（香港護照倒是兩樣都有，但不是我的新國籍，也不在同一頁上）！

沒辦法，我只好又以書面去問IB，得到的答覆如下：

Dear Mr. XXXXX, 

We will require ID document showing both photo and signature on it. The reason we ask for it to match your physical signature done on LOA form with ID document proof provided.

You may send in your Hong Kong passport copy with your signature page. Marriage license will not work. 

Regards,
XXXXX
IBKR Client Services

　　然後，我突然發現，新的台灣護照，簽名欄與相片在同一版上（我從未留意那裏有個簽名欄，也根本沒有去簽名）。唉，真低能！

　　傳送了LOA表格與護照頁影印本後，隨即打長途電話給香港IB進行口頭驗證。口頭驗證的程序出乎意料的全面，要答一大串「中學畢業於哪間學校」、「2000年新年在哪處渡過」、「新婚在哪裏渡蜜月」、「第一個小孩在哪年哪月出世」等等預先設定的問答題，連我本人都差一點被難倒，這是在考我記憶力嗎？ 

做齊三件事並書面知會IB後，IB又要我繼續等待：

Dear Mr. XXXXX, 

Thank you for completing all the pending requirements. 

We have forwarded all the information to our corresponding team for further review. 

We will update you over this web ticket as soon as we have a final approval for this transfer. 

Regards,
XXXXX
IBKR Client Services

　　足足等了九天，我終於忍不住假借要存款入戶口，書面詢問進度。又等了兩天，才收到IB的回覆：

Dear Mr. XXXXX, 

Thank you for your patience.

We are processing this transfer as manual process which includes multiple reviews by the documents processing and compliance team at each stage. Hence, such request might take time depending on the complexity of the request and the account structure. However, you may continue to use your accounts during the transfer process which means you can transfer funds to the new account too. We only ask account holders to refrain from the trading activities in the source account when transfer reaches to the final stage. 

We will communicate you over this web ticket as soon as we have an final approval from our corresponding team.

Regards,
XXXXX
IBKR Client Services

　　該回覆的意思，其實就是客氣地說：「你等就等嘛，催甚麼催？該吃就吃，該睡就睡，別來煩我！」

　　六個小時後，收到了另一封回覆：

Dear Mr. XXXXX, 

We have received the final approval for this transfer. Kindly note, the way in which account transfers are processed for IB entity changes does not provide for an automated way in which the source account will close nor will it provide for the automatic sweep of residual balances from accruals. In other words, accruals will remain in the source account and the source account will remain open. So after the manual transfer is completed you can place an online closure request from account management. 

We will try to schedule this transfer tomorrow 04 September 2019 as per US timezone unless there are objections. 

Regards,
XXXXX
IBKR Client Services

　　這封信就是通知我，資產轉移將安排在第二天（九月四日）進行。至九月四日傍晚，IB再次正式通知操作即將開始：

Dear Mr. XXXXX,

This transfer has been scheduled and should process tonight.

For any further information, please let me know.

Regards,
XXXXX
IBKR Client Services

　　其實在收到這個通知前，我發現資產已轉移了，只是不知為何舊帳戶還有淨現金留下。九月五日下午，IB正式通知資產轉移完成：

Dear Mr. XXXXX,

The transfer has been completed on 04 September 2019.

Kindly note, the way in which account transfers are processed does not provide for an automated way in which the source account will close nor will it provide for the automatic sweep of residual balances from accruals. In other words, interest and dividend accruals will remain in the source account and the source account will remain open. So after the manual transfer is completed you can take the necessary steps to close the account and withdraw funds once accruals are posted to the cash balance.

If you need any further assistance, please let me know.

Regards,
XXXXX
IBKR Client Services

　　原來舊帳戶留下的淨現金，是用來支付月底應付的槓桿貸款的。該通知還提醒我，舊的IB HK帳戶需要我去人手關閉。但是，我還有應付未付的股息／債息，如果關閉帳戶，到帳後將來又怎去提款呢？沒辦法，只好又去書面詢問IB（IB的負責職員應該覺得我煩透了！）。

　　IB回覆如下：

Dear Mr. XXXXX,

There is no specific restriction that account needs to be closed only after the accruals are posted to the cash balance. You may even close the account now. The accruals will be added to the cash balance and you should be able to withdraw funds even after the closure of the account. Also, IBKR does not have any minimum amount withdrawal requirement.

Please note that in case if you keep the account opened, monthly activity fees will be applicable.

Regards,
XXXXX
IBKR Client Services

　　原來即使關閉了帳戶，有需要仍可繼續取款。而且IB提醒了我一件事，如果不關閉舊帳戶，是要每月付10美金月費的（10萬美元以上淨資產才可免月費）。

　　然後呢？我當然乖乖關閉了陪伴我多年的IB HK帳戶了！其實我最捨不得的，是舊IB可以使用低技術、卻又超級方便的實體Security Card安全登入系統（新IB帳戶已不能使用這種登入方式）。

　　在這段時間，我也嘗試了存款（港幣）進新的IB LCC帳戶，與IB HK帳戶存款的過程沒有大分別，只是存入的花旗帳戶號碼有所不同而已。

　　報告完畢！