Estate planning at Ascensus
How to protect 17 Ascensus accounts — manage beneficiaries online, fund a trust by mail, and file death claims
Participant Services
Phone1-800-346-3860
Mailing Address
200 Dryden Road, Suite 4000, Dresher, PA 19025
401(k) / 403(b) / Qualified Plan Participants
NQDC Participants (Newport, an Ascensus company)
SEP / SIMPLE IRA
SEP / SIMPLE IRA (alt)
Individual(k)
Individual(k) (alt)
529 Accounts
Vanguard 403(b) Services
Plan Sponsors / Employers
CoPilot
WebsiteLearn more→
Participant Services
Phone1-800-346-3860
Mailing Address
200 Dryden Road, Suite 4000, Dresher, PA 19025
401(k) / 403(b) / Qualified Plan Participants
NQDC Participants (Newport, an Ascensus company)
SEP / SIMPLE IRA
SEP / SIMPLE IRA (alt)
Individual(k)
Individual(k) (alt)
529 Accounts
Vanguard 403(b) Services
Plan Sponsors / Employers
CoPilot
WebsiteLearn more→
Beneficiary Claims (via Plan Sponsor or Financial Institution)
Phone1-888-652-8086
Mailing Address
200 Dryden Road, Suite 4000, Dresher, PA 19025
NQDC Claims (Newport, an Ascensus company)
SEP / SIMPLE IRA Claims
General IRA Inquiries
Vanguard 403(b) Claims
WebsiteNotify online→
Verified Apr 2026
Ascensus is a retirement provider managing 17 retirement retirement accounts. These tax-advantaged accounts transfer by beneficiary designation—not by will—making it critical to keep designations current and aligned with broader estate planning goals.
Managing beneficiaries at Ascensus is straightforward—changes can be made online, by mail, and by phone, typically taking 10-20 minutes. Trust funding is also available, allowing families to name a trust as the beneficiary of retirement accounts.
There are two sides to estate planning at Ascensus: setting things up while you're alive, and the process survivors follow after a death.
Preparing your estate
Beneficiaries and trust funding
How to manage beneficiaries online, fund a trust by mail, and review 17 account types at Ascensus.
View details →When someone dies
Death claim process
6-step process, 8 required documents, and contact information for survivors.
View details →Frequently asked questions
Options may include lump sum distribution, rollover to an inherited IRA, or installment payments, depending on the plan type and beneficiary relationship. SECURE Act 2.0 rules generally require full distribution within 10 years for most non-spouse designated beneficiaries. Eligible designated beneficiaries (surviving spouses, minor children, disabled individuals, chronically ill individuals, and beneficiaries not more than 10 years younger) may have additional options including life expectancy distributions.
Ascensus has dedicated phone lines by plan type. For 401(k), 403(b), and qualified plans: 888-652-8086. For NQDC plans (Newport, an Ascensus company): 800-230-3950. For SEP and SIMPLE IRAs: 844-292-4701 or 833-889-9878. For Individual(k): 833-893-3233 or 833-688-0086. For Vanguard 403(b) Services: 800-569-4903. For 529 accounts: 877-529-2980. For general inquiries: 800-346-3860. For employers and plan sponsors: 888-652-8087.
Yes. Ascensus is the nation's largest 529 plan administrator, managing over $300 billion in total 529 assets across 51 plans and more than 8.5 million accounts nationwide (as of January 2026). Account owners designate a beneficiary (the student) who will use the funds for qualified education expenses. Ascensus administers 529 plans for 31 states and Washington DC. For 529 account support, call 877-529-2980.
FuturePlan by Ascensus and Newport (an Ascensus company) are subsidiaries that handle specific plan types. FuturePlan provides third-party retirement plan administration. Newport, based in Walnut Creek, California, specializes in nonqualified deferred compensation (NQDC) plan administration (participant support: 800-230-3950). Ascensus is the parent platform that also directly administers 401(k), 403(b), 457(b), defined benefit, SEP IRA, SIMPLE IRA, 529, and ABLE plans. All operate under the Ascensus umbrella.
Sources
Data sourced from Ascensus primary sources (20 pages reviewed). How we research.
Participant Services
Phone1-800-346-3860
Mailing Address
200 Dryden Road, Suite 4000, Dresher, PA 19025
401(k) / 403(b) / Qualified Plan Participants
NQDC Participants (Newport, an Ascensus company)
SEP / SIMPLE IRA
SEP / SIMPLE IRA (alt)
Individual(k)
Individual(k) (alt)
529 Accounts
Vanguard 403(b) Services
Plan Sponsors / Employers
CoPilot
WebsiteLearn more→
Participant Services
Phone1-800-346-3860
Mailing Address
200 Dryden Road, Suite 4000, Dresher, PA 19025
401(k) / 403(b) / Qualified Plan Participants
NQDC Participants (Newport, an Ascensus company)
SEP / SIMPLE IRA
SEP / SIMPLE IRA (alt)
Individual(k)
Individual(k) (alt)
529 Accounts
Vanguard 403(b) Services
Plan Sponsors / Employers
CoPilot
WebsiteLearn more→
Beneficiary Claims (via Plan Sponsor or Financial Institution)
Phone1-888-652-8086
Mailing Address
200 Dryden Road, Suite 4000, Dresher, PA 19025
NQDC Claims (Newport, an Ascensus company)
SEP / SIMPLE IRA Claims
General IRA Inquiries
Vanguard 403(b) Claims
WebsiteNotify online→
Verified Apr 2026
Estate planning articles
Learn how to protect your Ascensus accounts and other assets with trusts, beneficiary designations, and estate planning documents.
