How to name beneficiaries and fund a trust at VALIC
Beneficiaries are managed online, by phone or by mail. Trust paperwork is taken by phone or by mail
VALIC is now Corebridge FinancialRebranded
AIG spun off its Life and Retirement business as Corebridge Financial, and the AIG Retirement Services / VALIC consumer brand now operates as Corebridge Financial; valic.com 301-redirects to corebridgefinancial.com/rs. Corebridge's own brands page states that "The Variable Annuity Life Insurance Company (VALIC) and VALIC Financial Advisors, Inc. (VFA) continue to operate as legal entities of Corebridge Financial and so you may see these names referenced in materials you receive from us," alongside VALIC Retirement Services Company (VRSCO), the recordkeeper and transfer agent. Existing VALIC contracts, contract numbers, and the myaccount.valic.com login are unchanged. A SECOND brand change is already in motion: Corebridge and Equitable Holdings, Inc. are merging, stockholders of both companies approved the merger on 2026-07-30, and on closing (expected by year-end 2026, still subject to regulatory approval) the combined company will operate under the EQUITABLE name and brand. Until then, the contacts and procedures below are the Corebridge Retirement Services operation that services VALIC contracts.
For VALIC policyholders, estate planning comes down to one critical step: making sure the right beneficiaries are named on every policy. Insurance proceeds bypass probate entirely and go directly to whoever is listed—regardless of what a will says. When estate tax planning or controlled distributions are a factor, a trust can be named as beneficiary instead.
VALIC has 4 policies with different estate transfer rules. Here is how beneficiary designations, trust ownership, and probate apply to each one.
Beneficiary form at VALIC
Annuity Beneficiary Designation Form (VL 14945) (for annuitys), Additional Beneficiary Designation Sheet (VL 14945-1) (for annuitys), Additional Beneficiary Custodian for Minor Sheet (VL 14945-2), Profile and Inside Edge Beneficiary Change Form (VL 22415) and Plan-specific beneficiary form for a Group Mutual Fund plan (for employer retirement plans).
Open the form →- Enter beneficiary name, relationship, date of birth, and percentage allocation in whole percentages; primary percentages must total 100%
- For trusts: enter trust name, trust date, and Tax Identification Number (TIN)
- Per stirpes: if you select the "per Stirpes" box, a deceased beneficiary's living children divide that share equally; if not, it is divided among the remaining beneficiaries in that category
- VL 14945 (Annuity Beneficiary Designation Form) for most annuity accounts
- VL 14945-1 (Additional Beneficiary Designation Sheet) when the beneficiaries exceed the space on VL 14945; it must be submitted with VL 14945 or the application form
- VL 14945-2 (Additional Beneficiary Custodian for Minor Sheet) when any beneficiary is a minor; it must also be submitted with VL 14945 or the enrollment form
- VL 22415 (Profile and Inside Edge Beneficiary Change Form) for Profile or Inside Edge accounts only
- For a Group Mutual Fund plan, use the plan-specific beneficiary form listed for that plan number rather than VL 14945
- Primary and contingent beneficiaries with whole-percentage allocations totaling 100%
- For trusts: trust name, trust date, Tax Identification Number (TIN), and trust address
- For a minor: name a custodian in the form "[adult you nominate] as custodian for [minor] under the [state] Uniform Gifts to Minors Act," the wording Corebridge suggests
- Spousal consent, where required: the spouse's signature must be witnessed by either the Plan Administrator or a Notary Public
Required Documents
- Beneficiary's name and relationship
- Beneficiary's date of birth
- Trust name, trust date, TIN and trust address (when naming a trust). A copy of the trust document is not required to name a trust as beneficiary
- Annuity Beneficiary Designation Form (VL 14945), completed (by mail or fax)
- Additional Beneficiary Custodian for Minor Sheet (VL 14945-2) (when any beneficiary is a minor)
- Spouse's signed consent (where the plan requires spousal consent). The spouse's signature must be witnessed by the Plan Administrator or a Notary Public
- Court documents pertaining to the separation (if you are legally separated and the plan requires spousal consent)
What VALIC says about beneficiaries and trusts
Each section is VALIC's own statement, with the document it comes from numbered under Sources.
Who can be named4
- A trust
A trust can be named as a beneficiary.1
- The estate
An estate can be named as a beneficiary.1
- A charity or nonprofit
A charity can be named as a beneficiary.1
- A minor
A minor beneficiary needs a custodian designation under the state Uniform Gifts (Transfers) to Minors Act, submitted on form VL 14945-2.2
How many beneficiaries, and how shares are split
What a designation takes to be effective
- Employer retirement plan
The form notes spousal consent is needed "for ERISA accounts when a non-spouse is designated as primary beneficiary for more than the allowable percentage under the plan." The spouse's signature is witnessed by the Plan Administrator or a Notary Public.2
If the plan requires spousal consent and you are legally separated, give the beneficiary election form to the plan administrator with the court documents on the separation to name a non-spouse beneficiary.1
If your spouse is missing, provide the information to the plan administrator, who decides whether spousal consent is necessary.1
Beneficiary forms VALIC issues5
- Annuity Beneficiary Designation Form (VL 14945)
For annuitys. Available to download.2
Return to
Fax: 1-877-202-0187
Mailing address: Corebridge Retirement Services, P.O. Box 15648, Amarillo, TX 79105-5648
- Additional Beneficiary Designation Sheet (VL 14945-1)
For annuitys. Available to download.2
Return to
Fax: 1-877-202-0187
Mailing address: Corebridge Retirement Services, P.O. Box 15648, Amarillo, TX 79105-5648
- Additional Beneficiary Custodian for Minor Sheet (VL 14945-2)
Available to download.2
Return to
Fax: 1-877-202-0187
Mailing address: Corebridge Retirement Services, P.O. Box 15648, Amarillo, TX 79105-5648
- Profile and Inside Edge Beneficiary Change Form (VL 22415)
Available to download.2
Return to
Fax: 1-877-202-0187
Mailing address: Corebridge Retirement Services, P.O. Box 15648, Amarillo, TX 79105-5648
- Plan-specific beneficiary form for a Group Mutual Fund plan
For employer retirement plans. Available to download.2
What VALIC's agreement says about beneficiaries4
- A designation and a will
Corebridge states that "a will does not control who inherits your retirement account." Retirement accounts pass by the beneficiary designation, the plan terms, or state or federal default rules.1
- A beneficiary who dies first
With the per stirpes box selected on the beneficiary form, a deceased beneficiary's children take that share. Without it, the share goes to the surviving beneficiaries in that category.2
- No beneficiary survives
If a trust named as primary beneficiary does not exist when the owner dies, the account goes to the contingent beneficiary. If there is none, it passes under the contract, the plan, or state or federal rules.1
- Changing or revoking a designation
A power of attorney can change your beneficiary elections only if that authority is specifically described in the power of attorney document.1
Which accounts a trust can hold3
- Annuity
Trust ownership is available only on nonqualified deferred annuities.2
VL 23015 "is required when submitting nonqualified applications where the ownership is a Trust" and "for subsequent NQDA ownership changes where the new owner is a Trust."2
- Employer retirement plan
Qualified contracts sit inside employer plans, which cannot be retitled to a revocable trust; naming the trust as beneficiary is the path.2
- IRA
Qualified contracts held as IRAs cannot be retitled to a revocable trust; naming the trust as beneficiary is the path.2
Trust account forms VALIC issues3
- Certification of Trust Document and Trustee Powers (VL 23015)
For annuitys. Available to download.2
Return to
Fax: 1-877-202-0187
Mailing address: Corebridge Retirement Services, P.O. Box 15648, Amarillo, TX 79105-5648
- Entity Client Account Form (VL 23547)
For annuitys. Sent by the institution on request.2
Return to
Fax: 1-877-202-0187
Mailing address: Corebridge Retirement Services, P.O. Box 15648, Amarillo, TX 79105-5648
- Supplemental Entity Client Account Form (VL 23547-1)
For annuitys. Sent by the institution on request.2
Return to
Fax: 1-877-202-0187
Mailing address: Corebridge Retirement Services, P.O. Box 15648, Amarillo, TX 79105-5648
Sources
Data sourced from VALIC primary sources (15 pages reviewed). How we research.
Download these VALIC instructions
Download instructions for the whole estateA printable PDF with the steps, required documents, and contact details — verified against VALIC primary sources. Bring it to the branch or keep it beside the phone.
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Estate requests go through general customer service.
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