> I absolutely would want the receiving outfit require that I visit my current outfit in person first to authorise such a transfer.

So, about that… The Medallion Signature Guarantee is often obtained from an entity not involved in the transfer. From [0] on my post:

> We do not provide medallion signature guarantees for assets you're transferring out of a Bank of America or Merrill account (guarantees are typically provided by a third party not involved in the transfer or by the firm receiving the assets).

In a way, that's a good thing: By the time you've initiated this transfer, the receiving entity should have done their KYC. And the losing entity probably would not want to take the cost of the liability. Having a third party—one who has had you as a customer for some time—is a good layer of security.