How to name beneficiaries and fund a trust at American Century
Covers 5 investment, and 7 retirement accounts — beneficiaries can be managed online
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 Apr 2026
Estate planning for your American Century investment accounts starts with understanding how each one transfers at death. Beneficiary designations and trust retitling both bypass probate, but the right approach depends on the account type, your tax situation, and how much control you want over distributions.
American Century has 12 product types, and the estate transfer rules differ across them. Some support Transfer on Death (TOD) designations, some can be retitled into a trust, and others will require probate if nothing is set up. Each is covered below.
Individual Investment AccountJoint Investment AccountPersonal Trust AccountCoverdell Education Savings Account (CESA)Brokerage Account
1
Log in to americancentury.com
2
Navigate to americancentury.com/bene to access the online beneficiary designation tool for retirement accounts
3
Select the retirement account type(s) to which the designation will apply (all retirement accounts, or specific types)
4
Enter beneficiary information:
- Enter primary beneficiary information: name, SSN or Tax ID, date of birth, relationship, and allocation percentage
- Enter contingent (secondary) beneficiary information if desired
- If a trust is a beneficiary, submit a copy of the trust title page, signature page, and successor trustee pages separately
5
Review and submit; the designation revokes all prior designations for the selected account types
Required Documents
- Trust name, date established, and tax ID (EIN or SSN)
Special Requirements
- Married account owners in community property states must obtain notarized spousal consent to name a non-spouse as beneficiary on IRA accounts
- 403(b) participants whose plan is subject to ERISA QPSA requirements must obtain notarized spousal consent regardless of state of residence
- A trust named as beneficiary requires submission of trust title page, signature page, and successor trustee pages
- Per stirpes beneficiary designations are not available online; call 1-800-345-2021 to request the per stirpes form
- The estate of the investor may not be named as the sole primary TOD beneficiary on non-retirement accounts
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 Apr 2026
Estate planning articles
Learn how to protect your American Century accounts and other assets with trusts, beneficiary designations, and estate planning documents.
