Estate planning at American Century
How to protect 12 American Century accounts — manage beneficiaries online, fund a trust online, and file claims through American Century's Estate Transfer Specialists
Phone1-800-345-2021
Mailing Address
American Century Investments, PO Box 419200, Kansas City, MO 64141
24-Hour Automated Line
Brokerage Services
Business Retirement Services (403(b), SIMPLE, SEP)
Advisory Services (Private Client Group)
International (Priority)
WebsiteLearn more →
Estate Transfer Specialist
Phone1-800-422-3301
Fax1-888-327-2014
Mailing Address
American Century Investments, PO Box 419200, Kansas City, MO 64141
Verified Mar 2026
American Century offers 12 consumer investment accounts that interact with estate planning in distinct ways. Of those, 11 can name a trust as beneficiary or be retitled into a trust. Understanding the transfer methods available for each account type helps families keep assets out of probate and ensure they pass to the right people.
Beneficiary designations at American Century can be managed online, by mail, and by phone, typically taking 15-20 minutes online; 20-30 minutes by mail. Trust funding is also available, allowing families to retitle brokerage accounts into a trust.
American Century provides specific procedures for both proactive estate planning and filing claims after a death.
Preparing your estate
Beneficiaries and trust funding
How to manage beneficiaries online, fund a trust online, and review 12 account types at American Century.
View details →When someone dies
Death claim process
Contact American Century's Estate Transfer Specialists to file a claim. 10-step process, 8 required documents, and contact information for survivors.
View details →For questions about any of these procedures, contact American Century's Estate Transfer Specialists at 1-888-345-9166.
Frequently asked questions
You can designate beneficiaries for your American Century IRA online at americancentury.com/bene, or by completing the Designation of Beneficiary for Retirement Accounts form (CL-FRM-96342). For brokerage IRAs, use the Brokerage IRA Designation of Beneficiary form. Online designation is available for Traditional, Rollover, Roth, SEP, SARSEP, SIMPLE IRAs, and 403(b) and 457(b) accounts. You can name primary and contingent (secondary) beneficiaries and assign allocation percentages. If you do not assign percentages, benefits are paid in equal shares.
Yes. Personal Trust Accounts are available for both revocable and irrevocable trusts. You can apply online at americancentury.com/start (select Personal Trust) or complete the Individual, Joint or Personal Trust Account Application by mail. You will need to provide the trust name, trust date, trust Tax ID number (or trustee SSN if the trust does not have a separate EIN), and copies of the first page, signature page, and trustee identification pages of the trust agreement. For brokerage trust accounts, complete the Brokerage Estate/Trust Account Application and the Trustee Certification of Investment Powers form. Existing non-retirement accounts can be re-registered to a trust using the Transfer of Ownership form. IRAs cannot be retitled to a trust.
Per stirpes designations are not available through the standard online beneficiary tool or the standard Designation of Beneficiary form. To set up a per stirpes designation, call American Century at 1-800-345-2021 to request the appropriate per stirpes form. Under a per stirpes arrangement, if a primary or secondary beneficiary predeceases you, that beneficiary's share passes to their surviving lineal descendants by right of representation.
The minimum initial investment to establish a brokerage account at American Century is $2,500. The subsequent investment minimum is $50. Brokerage accounts have an annual account maintenance fee of $50, waived for accounts with $20,000 or more in American Century family of funds. Annual IRA fee is $50, waived for accounts over $10,000. Equity and stock transaction commissions start at $9.95 and vary based on account tier and order method. American Century no-transaction-fee (NTF) mutual funds are available without a commission.
Phone1-800-345-2021
Mailing Address
American Century Investments, PO Box 419200, Kansas City, MO 64141
24-Hour Automated Line
Brokerage Services
Business Retirement Services (403(b), SIMPLE, SEP)
Advisory Services (Private Client Group)
International (Priority)
WebsiteLearn more →
Estate Transfer Specialist
Phone1-800-422-3301
Fax1-888-327-2014
Mailing Address
American Century Investments, PO Box 419200, Kansas City, MO 64141
Verified Mar 2026
Estate planning resources for American Century customers
Tools and documents to help protect your American Century accounts.
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