American National
Subsidiary of American National Group Inc. (Brookfield Wealth Solutions)
americannational.comHow to name beneficiaries and fund a trust at American National
Beneficiaries are managed by phone or by mail. Trust paperwork is taken by phone or by mail
American National has changed ownershipAcquired, effective May 2022
Brookfield Reinsurance completed its acquisition of all outstanding shares of American National Group, Inc. at $190 per share, an approximately $5.1 billion all-cash transaction, on May 22, 2022. Existing policies remain in force and are serviced under the American National brand. American National Group Inc. is now the SEC-registrant holding company for both the American National and American Equity insurance companies, under Brookfield Wealth Solutions. American National stopped writing new life and health insurance and now focuses on annuities and pension risk transfer; property and casualty moved to the Farm Family brand.
Beneficiary designations are the foundation of estate planning for American National policies. Unlike bank accounts, insurance products cannot be retitled into a trust. Instead, the beneficiary designation itself determines who receives the proceeds and how quickly they're paid. Naming a trust as beneficiary is an option when more control over distributions is needed.
American National has 15 product types, and the estate transfer rules differ across them. Some support beneficiary designations, some can be retitled into a trust, and others pass through the estate if nothing is set up. Each is covered below.
Beneficiary form at American National
Beneficiary Change Request (Form AN-11088), listed on the site as "Change in Beneficiary Form" (for life insurance policys), Annuity Service Request Form (Form AN-3575), which carries the beneficiary section (for annuitys) and Additional Beneficiary Designations for Inforce Policies/Contracts Form (AN-11089), for overflow.
Open the form →- Life insurance policy service: 800-899-6806
- Annuity policy service: 800-252-9546
- Variable contracts: 800-306-2959
- Palladium MYG annuity bought online: 866-612-6981
- Life insurance: Beneficiary Change Request, Form AN-11088 (listed on the site as "Change in Beneficiary Form")
- Annuities: Annuity Service Request Form, Form AN-3575, which carries the beneficiary section
- Running out of space on either: Additional Beneficiary Designations for Inforce Policies/Contracts Form, Form AN-11089
- Primary and contingent beneficiary full legal names, dates of birth, Social Security numbers (or ITIN/EIN), relationship to owner, and whole-percentage allocations totalling 100%
- To name a trust: the full legal trust name, the date of the trust agreement, and the trustee name(s)
- The Owner signs. If the Owner is a trust, business, guardian or attorney-in-fact, the signer must print a Title (Officer, Trustee or Power of Attorney)
- A joint owner and/or spouse signs where applicable
- An irrevocable beneficiary or an assignee must also print their name, sign and date the form to consent
Required Documents
- Beneficiary's full legal name (for each primary and contingent beneficiary)
- Beneficiary's date of birth
- Beneficiary's Social Security number, ITIN or EIN
- Beneficiary's relationship to the owner
- Full legal trust name and the date of the trust agreement (when naming a trust). The forms carry a dedicated Trust Date field and will not process a trust designation without it
- Trustee name(s) (when naming a trust)
- Trust's taxpayer identification number (EIN) (when naming a trust)
- Certificate of Trust or trust documentation (when naming a trust)
- Policy or contract number (when calling for the form)
- Life insurance policy service: 800-899-6806
- Annuity policy service: 800-252-9546
- Variable contracts: 800-306-2959
- Palladium MYG annuity bought online: 866-612-6981
- Life insurance: Beneficiary Change Request, Form AN-11088 (listed on the site as "Change in Beneficiary Form")
- Annuities: Annuity Service Request Form, Form AN-3575, which carries the beneficiary section
- Running out of space on either: Additional Beneficiary Designations for Inforce Policies/Contracts Form, Form AN-11089
- Primary and contingent beneficiary full legal names, dates of birth, Social Security numbers (or ITIN/EIN), relationship to owner, and whole-percentage allocations totalling 100%
- To name a trust: the full legal trust name, the date of the trust agreement, and the trustee name(s)
- The Owner signs. If the Owner is a trust, business, guardian or attorney-in-fact, the signer must print a Title (Officer, Trustee or Power of Attorney)
- A joint owner and/or spouse signs where applicable
- An irrevocable beneficiary or an assignee must also print their name, sign and date the form to consent
Required Documents
- Beneficiary's full legal name (for each primary and contingent beneficiary)
- Beneficiary's date of birth
- Beneficiary's Social Security number, ITIN or EIN
- Beneficiary's relationship to the owner
- Full legal trust name and the date of the trust agreement (when naming a trust). The forms carry a dedicated Trust Date field and will not process a trust designation without it
- Trustee name(s) (when naming a trust)
- Trust's taxpayer identification number (EIN) (when naming a trust)
- Certificate of Trust or trust documentation (when naming a trust)
- Policy or contract number (when calling for the form)
- Life insurance: 800-899-6806
- Annuities: 800-252-9546
- Variable contracts: 800-306-2959
- Select the issuing company in Section 1 (American National Insurance Company, ANICONY, ANTEX, Garden State Life, or Standard Life and Accident)
- Write the new owner in the form's own format: "The Jane Doe Trust dated MM/DD/YYYY"; the instructions state that all Trust designations must include a Trust Date
- A trustee must sign with full name and title of Trustee
- If an irrevocable beneficiary is designated on the policy, that beneficiary's signature is also required
- Attach a copy of the new owner's photo ID. If a copy of the ID is not provided, verification must be made by a Notary Public or by the agent/producer, using the notary block on the form
Required Documents
- Change of Ownership Form (AN-11087), completed (for an ILIT ownership transfer)
- Certificate of Trust or trust documentation. A Certificate of Trust or trust summary is accepted, as are the trust pages showing the trust name, trust date and acting trustees
- Full legal trust name and trust date. The new owner is written "The Jane Doe Trust dated MM/DD/YYYY"; all trust designations must include a trust date
- Trust EIN. IRS Letter 147C or SS-4 confirmation is accepted as EIN documentation
- Trustee name(s) and signature under the title of Trustee
- Copy of the new owner's government-issued photo ID. If a copy is not provided, a Notary Public or the agent/producer verifies identity using the notary block on the form
- Signature of the irrevocable beneficiary (if an irrevocable beneficiary is designated on the policy)
- Policy or contract number and insured/owner information
What American National says about beneficiaries and trusts
Each section is American National's own statement, with the document it comes from numbered under Sources.
Which accounts take a beneficiary1
- Annuity
For the direct-sold Palladium MYG annuity, a representative sends the beneficiary form by mail or through OneSpan for electronic signature.1
Who can be named1
- A trust
A revocable or irrevocable trust can be named. The forms carry a Trust Date field and will not process a trust designation without the trust date.2, 3
The form distinguishes a testamentary trust, created and funded by the insured's last will, from a trust created during the grantor's lifetime. Payment to the trustee discharges the company, which is not responsible for how the trustee applies the proceeds.2
How many beneficiaries, and how shares are split
What a designation takes to be effective
- All accounts
Only the authenticated policy owner can change a beneficiary. A signer acting as trustee, corporate officer or attorney-in-fact prints their title (Officer, Trustee or Power of Attorney) beside the signature.2, 3
A joint owner or spouse signs where applicable. An irrevocable beneficiary or assignee must print their name, sign and date the form to consent; without that signature the change is not effective.2, 3
- Annuity
The annuity form states: "If a change of ownership or beneficiary is occurring in a community property state, the spouse must also sign this form."3
Beneficiary forms American National issues3
- Beneficiary Change Request (Form AN-11088), listed on the site as "Change in Beneficiary Form"
For life insurance policys. Completed by the policy owner. Available to download.2
Return to
Fax: 1-409-621-7505
Mailing address: Life Insurance Services: Mail Processing Center, Attn: LIS 3257, P.O. Box 3257, Springfield, MO 65808-3257 (overnight: Mail Processing Center, 1949 E. Sunshine St., Springfield, MO 65899-0001, Attn: LIS 3257)
- Annuity Service Request Form (Form AN-3575), which carries the beneficiary section
For annuitys. Completed by the contract owner. Available to download.3
Return to
Fax: 1-409-766-2022
Mailing address: Annuity Services: Mail Processing Center, Attn: Annuity 10427, P.O. Box 10427, Springfield, MO 65808-0427 (overnight: Mail Processing Center, 1949 E. Sunshine St., Springfield, MO 65899-0001, Attn: Annuity 10427)
What American National's agreement says about beneficiaries4
- A designation and a will
Beneficiary designations on life insurance and annuity contracts control over instructions in a will.2, 3
- What the owner keeps while living
An irrevocable beneficiary blocks a new designation, policy loans and dividend changes without their written permission.2
- Online access
The direct annuity FAQ states: "At this time, beneficiaries cannot be updated online." The client portal handles profile updates and disbursement requests.1
- Changing or revoking a designation
A beneficiary change cannot be made over the phone. The form must be signed and returned.1
Which accounts a trust can hold2
Trust account forms American National issues1
- Change of Ownership Form (Form AN-11087)
For life insurance policys. Completed by the policy owner, with the trustee signing as new owner. Available to download.6
Return to
Fax: 1-409-621-7505
Mailing address: Life insurance: Mail Processing Center, Attn: LIS 3257, P.O. Box 3257, Springfield, MO 65808-3257 (overnight: 1949 E. Sunshine St., Springfield, MO 65899-0001)
What American National says about trust accounts1
- A trust as owner of a policy
The "Assignment/Release of Policy Form" is titled "Collateral Assignment of Life Insurance or Annuity" and creates a security interest for a lender. It does not change ownership.7
Sources7
- 1.Direct annuity FAQ
- 2.Beneficiary Change Request (Form AN-11088)
- 3.Annuity Service Request Form (Form AN-3575)
- 4.Additional Beneficiary Designations for Inforce Policies/Contracts Form (Form AN-11089)
- 5.Find a Form
- 6.Change of Ownership Form (Form AN-11087)
- 7.Collateral Assignment of Life Insurance or Annuity
Sources
Data sourced from American National primary sources (23 pages reviewed). How we research.
Download these American National instructions
Download instructions for the whole estateA printable PDF with the steps, required documents, and contact details — verified against American National primary sources. Bring it to the branch or keep it beside the phone.
American National estate support
Annuity Bill Pay & Policy Service
Phone
Life Insurance Bill Pay & Policy Service (run-off)
Variable Contracts
Health Bill Pay & Policy Service (run-off)
Disability Bill Pay & Policy Service (run-off)
Pension Risk Transfer
ANICO of New York
Garden State Life / American National of Texas
Investor Relations (Steven Schwartz)
Fax
Hours
Mailing address
Website
Estate requests go through general customer service.
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