With 10 products relevant to estate planning, American Family policyholders need to understand how beneficiary designations control where proceeds go. These designations override a will, so the names on file with American Family are what determine who receives the death benefit.

Beneficiary designations at American Family can be managed in branch, by mail, and by phone, typically taking 15-30 minutes with agent; allow additional time for processing. Trust funding options vary by account type—check with American Family for specifics.

American Family provides specific procedures for both proactive estate planning and filing claims after a death.

Preparing your estate

Beneficiaries and trust funding

How to update beneficiaries in-branch, and review 10 account types at American Family.

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When someone dies

Death claim process

6-step process, 6 required documents, and contact information for survivors.

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Frequently asked questions

Contact your American Family Insurance agent or call 1-800-MYAMFAM (1-800-692-6326) to request a beneficiary designation form. Complete the form with the new beneficiary's full legal name, relationship, and percentage allocation. The change takes effect once an accurate and complete form is received at the AFLIC Home Office. Only the policy owner can make beneficiary changes.

American Family offers several DreamSecure life insurance products: Term Life (10-, 15-, 20-, and 30-year terms), Simplified Term (no medical exam, $50,000-$150,000), EasyProtect Term (for existing customers, 10-, 15-, and 20-year terms, $150,000-$750,000), Whole Life (permanent coverage with premiums to age 100), 15 Pay Whole Life (fully paid after 15 years), Flexible Life (adjustable universal life with flexible premiums), Children's Whole Life ($25,000-$75,000 with 10- or 20-year payment plans), and Senior Whole Life (ages 50-80, $10,000 or $15,000 coverage). Annuity products are offered through a partnership with Protective Life Insurance Company.

American Family offers annuity products through a partnership with Protective Life Insurance Company via American Family Brokerage, Inc. These include fixed and indexed annuity products focused on retirement and asset accumulation. Annuities are long-term insurance contracts intended for retirement planning. Contact an American Family agent for specific product details, availability, and current rates.

Yes. American Family provides My Account (myaccount.amfam.com) for secure, 24/7 access to your policy details. You can view policy information, make premium payments, and access agent contact information online. However, beneficiary changes currently require completing a form through your agent or by mail rather than through the online portal.

Yes. Permanent life insurance policies (DreamSecure Whole Life, 15 Pay Whole Life, Flexible Life) and term life policies (DreamSecure Term Life, Simplified Term, EasyProtect Term) can be assigned to an Irrevocable Life Insurance Trust (ILIT) for estate tax planning purposes. Contact your American Family agent to initiate the ownership transfer. An attorney should draft the ILIT documents before the assignment. American Family agents do not provide legal advice regarding trust setup.

Yes. American Family offers two no-medical-exam options: DreamSecure Simplified Term Life Insurance ($50,000-$150,000, applicants answer health questions, typically issued within 10 business days) and DreamSecure Senior Whole Life Insurance (ages 50-80, $10,000 or $15,000 coverage, applicants answer a few health questions, can be issued in as little as a week). The DreamSecure EasyProtect Term also uses accelerated underwriting with decisions within an hour for eligible existing American Family customers.

DreamSecure Children's Whole Life Insurance provides permanent coverage for children with options of $25,000, $50,000, or $75,000. It is available with 10-year or 20-year payment plans. No medical exam is required. The policy builds cash value over time, and earlier enrollment allows faster cash value accumulation. It includes a Guaranteed Purchase Option allowing the owner to purchase additional coverage at certain ages and life events without new underwriting. The 10-year payment option qualifies as a modified endowment contract (MEC) with tax implications. The policy can be transferred to the child when they reach adulthood.