What is a Rollover?

A rollover involves the transfer of funds from one investment to another. These transactions usually involve the transfer of funds between similar investment vehicles, though a treasury department may shift funds into investments with different maturities, depending on when the cash is expected to be needed. Rollovers are especially useful when shifting funds between retirement accounts, since rollover transactions do not trigger taxable events.

Example of a Rollover

As an example of a rollover, an investment in a U.S. Treasury instrument matures, releasing funds that can then be rolled over into a new Treasury instrument. As another example, a person rolls the contents of his 401(k) retirement account into the new 401(k) account that he has just opened with a new employer.