How to name beneficiaries and fund a trust at Athene
Beneficiaries are managed online, by phone or by mail. Trust paperwork is taken by phone or by mail
Beneficiary designations are the foundation of estate planning for Athene 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.
With 14 product types, Athene offers a range of transfer options. Some policies support beneficiary designations, others can be retitled into a trust, and some require probate if no beneficiary is designated. The sections below break down each step.
Beneficiary form at Athene
Beneficiary Change Request (form 13977), Additional Beneficiaries Designation (supplement to form 13977), Trust Verification (form 16541), Pension Plan Verification (form 17982) and Company, Partnership or LLC Verification (form 19861).
Open the form →- Provide your contract number
- Ask for the Beneficiary Change Request (form 13977) to be mailed to you
- When naming a trust, ask for the Trust Verification form (16541) to be mailed as well
- Ask which additional verification applies if a pension plan or company owns the contract (forms 17982 and 19861)
- Beneficiary Change Request, form 13977
- Additional Beneficiaries Designation, supplement to form 13977, when there is not enough room on the form
- Trust Verification, form 16541, when a trust is the owner or the beneficiary
- Pension Plan Verification, form 17982, when a pension plan owns the contract
- Company, Partnership or LLC Verification, form 19861, when a company owns or is named as beneficiary
- Use percentages. All proceeds must total 100% or the request will not be accepted; if no percentages are listed, proceeds are divided equally
- Naming a class such as "Children" still requires listing the full names and relationships of the known members of that class
- A trust must be written in Athene's format: "The John J. Smith Trust under agreement dated January 1, 2017"
- "Last Will and Testament" will not be accepted as a beneficiary designation
- A charity beneficiary requires an address
- If the current beneficiary is irrevocable, that beneficiary must also approve the change
- Full trust name, contract numbers, original trust date, any amended trust dates, and the state whose law governs the trust
- Trust type: revocable, irrevocable, or a charitable remainder annuity trust or unitrust certified as tax-exempt
- Trust TIN, or an election that the trust has no separate TIN and uses the first settlor's personal TIN
- Names of the settlor(s) with SSN, date of birth, and living/deceased status
- Names of all current trustees (all current trustees must sign page 3) and all successor trustees
- Names of the notary and any witnesses to the trust
- Which signature authority the trust agreement requires: any trustee acting alone, all trustees acting together, or another arrangement
- Certification that neither the agent nor anyone affiliated with the agent is a beneficiary of the trust, and Certification of Beneficial Owners (anyone receiving 25% or more of the proceeds)
- Email to Documents@athene.com
- Fax to 866-709-3922
- Mail to Athene Annuity and Life Company, P.O. Box 1555, Des Moines, IA 50306-1555
- Overnight to 7700 Mills Civic Parkway, West Des Moines, IA 50266-3862
Required Documents
- Beneficiary Change Request (form 13977), every page. Signed and dated
- Contract number (when calling for the form)
- Full names and relationships of the known members of the class (when naming a class such as "Children")
- The charity's address (when naming a charity)
- Additional Beneficiaries Designation (supplement to form 13977) (when there is not enough room on the form)
- Trust Verification (form 16541) (when naming a trust). Signed and dated by every current trustee
- Trust name, original trust date and any amended trust dates (when naming a trust)
- State whose law governs the trust (when naming a trust)
- Trust tax identification number (when naming a trust). Or the first settlor's personal TIN if the trust has none
- Names of the settlors with SSN, date of birth and living or deceased status (when naming a trust)
- Names of all current trustees and successor trustees (when naming a trust)
- Beneficial owner details (when naming a trust). For anyone receiving 25% or more of the trust proceeds
- Trust document or Certificate of Trust (if Athene requests it)
- Company, Partnership or LLC Verification (form 19861) (when a company owns the contract or is named as beneficiary)
What Athene says about beneficiaries and trusts
Each section is Athene's own statement, with the document it comes from numbered under Sources.
Who can be named4
- A person
Naming a class such as "Children" still requires listing the full names and relationships of the known members of that class.1
- A trust
A trust is named in Athene's format: "The John J. Smith Trust under agreement dated January 1, 2017". It requires Trust Verification form 16541.1, 2
Form 16541 lists every current trustee, the original and amended trust dates, the governing state and the trust TIN.1, 2
- A charity or nonprofit
A charity beneficiary requires an address.1
- A business
A company named as beneficiary requires the Company, Partnership or LLC Verification, form 19861.3
How many beneficiaries, and how shares are split
- All accounts
Shares are given as percentages, and all proceeds must total 100% or the request is not accepted. If no percentages are listed, proceeds are divided equally.1
Primary and contingent beneficiaries can be named. When there is not enough room on form 13977, the Additional Beneficiaries Designation supplement is used.4, 3
What a designation takes to be effective
Beneficiary forms Athene issues5
- Beneficiary Change Request (form 13977)
Completed by the owner. Available to download.1
Return to
Email: Documents@athene.com
Fax: 1-866-709-3922
Mailing address: Athene Annuity and Life Company, P.O. Box 1555, Des Moines, IA 50306-1555 (overnight: 7700 Mills Civic Parkway, West Des Moines, IA 50266-3862)
- Additional Beneficiaries Designation (supplement to form 13977)
Available to download.3
- Trust Verification (form 16541)
Completed by every current trustee. Available to download.2
Return to
Email: Documents@athene.com
Fax: 1-866-709-3922
Mailing address: Athene Annuity and Life Company, P.O. Box 1555, Des Moines, IA 50306-1555 (overnight: 7700 Mills Civic Parkway, West Des Moines, IA 50266-3862)
- Pension Plan Verification (form 17982)
Available to download.3
- Company, Partnership or LLC Verification (form 19861)
Available to download.3
What Athene's agreement says about beneficiaries5
- When a designation takes effect
The change takes effect on the date the form is received at Athene's Home Office, not the date it is signed.1
- The institution's right to refuse a designation or an account title
Athene does not accept "Last Will and Testament" as a beneficiary designation.1
- Online access
MyAthene online beneficiary changes are limited to contracts issued by Athene Annuity and Life Company (the former Aviva USA book). Any other contract requires a paper form.4
- Review of the trust document
Athene does not require the trust instrument up front. Form 16541 is a self-certification: the trustees certify the trust's terms, and Athene reserves the right to request a copy of the trust documents but has no obligation to investigate the trust or the trustees' authority.2
- Successor trustees
Athene may rely on the named trustees until it receives written notice at its Home Office that a trustee has changed. An updated form 16541 is required after any amendment or trustee change, or when a trustee signs a form on the trust's behalf.2
Trust account forms Athene issues2
- Change of Ownership Form (17860)
For annuitys. Available to download.5
- Trust Verification (form 16541)
Completed by every current trustee. Available to download.2
Sources
Data sourced from Athene primary sources (17 pages reviewed). How we research.
Download these Athene instructions
Download instructions for the whole estateA printable PDF with the steps, required documents, and contact details — verified against Athene primary sources. Bring it to the branch or keep it beside the phone.
Athene estate support
Annuity Customer Contact Center
Phone
Fixed Annuities (Investors Insurance Corporation contracts)
Fixed Annuities (Liberty Life or RBC Insurance contracts not beginning with MA)
Fixed Annuities (Presidential Life contracts)
Athene Annuity & Life Assurance Company of New York
Pension Group Annuities (all-numerical certificate numbers)
Pension Group Annuities (certificate numbers beginning A)
Structured Settlement Annuities
Variable Annuities and Variable Life Insurance
Life Insurance (Whole, Universal, ExpressTERM, LevelTERM)
Life Insurance (Indexed Universal Life, Traditional/BMA)
Life Insurance (Accidental Death, Disability Income)
Life Insurance (Mortgage Life)
Life Insurance (Mortgage Protection)
Life Insurance (Cancer Expense / Critical Illness)
Fax
Hours
Mailing address
Website
Estate requests go through general customer service.
Estate planning articles
Learn how to protect your Athene accounts and other assets with trusts, beneficiary designations, and estate planning documents.
Is this your situation?
Get a complete guide for your specific circumstances.
New Baby or Adoption
Your family is growing. Your protection should too. Guardian nominations, trusts for minors, beneficiary updates, and the documents new parents need in place.
Learn more
Marriage
What married couples need in place: one joint trust or two, wills, beneficiary updates, and the spousal rights your state grants you automatically.
Learn more
New Home
How to put your house in a revocable trust: the deed you record, what it does to your mortgage and property taxes, and when a TOD deed is simpler.
Learn more
Retirement
Retirement changes your financial picture. Healthcare directives, beneficiary reviews, long-term care planning, and protecting what you've built.
Learn moreForms for Planning Your Estate
Free forms for planning your estate: a will, living trust, pour-over will, both powers of attorney, living will, and TOD deed.
Revocable Living Trust
Create a revocable living trust to avoid probate, protect privacy, and control asset distribution.
Last Will and Testament
Name your heirs, guardians, and final wishes. Free for every state.
Transfer on Death Deed
Transfer real property to a beneficiary upon your death without probate. Available in 34 states and the District of Columbia.
Tools for Planning Your Estate
Free tools for planning your estate: what a will or trust costs, whether you need a trust or TOD deed, and how documents are signed.
How Much Does a Revocable Living Trust Cost?
Compare revocable living trust costs across providers including online services and attorneys.
How Does SimplyTrust Compare to LegalZoom, Trust & Will, and Other Services?
Compare what it costs to make a trust official across SimplyTrust, LegalZoom, Trust & Will, Rocket Lawyer, and Quicken WillMaker.
Do I Need a Revocable Trust?
Find out if a revocable trust makes sense based on your state, estate value, and family situation.
Trust or Will: Which Costs Less?
Compare the cost of probate vs a trust for your state and estate value.
What Does Estate Planning Actually Cost?
Compare costs across estate planning providers including online services and attorneys.
How Much Life Insurance Do I Need?
Calculate your life insurance needs based on income, debts, and family situation.
