How to name beneficiaries and fund a trust at Betterment
Covers 4 investment, 3 deposit, and 5 retirement accounts — beneficiaries can be managed online
Customer Support
Betterment LLC, 450 West 33rd Street, FL 11, New York, NY 10001
Estate / Deceased Customer Transfers
Betterment Transfers, PO Box 207691, Dallas, TX 75320-7691 (overnight: Betterment Transfers, 2975 Regent Blvd, Suite 100, Lockbox Services 207691, Irving, TX 75063)
Preparing your Betterment investment accounts for estate transfer involves two primary strategies: designating beneficiaries on individual accounts and, where supported, retitling accounts into a revocable living trust. Both approaches bypass probate, but they work differently depending on the account type.
With 12 product types, Betterment offers a range of transfer options. Some investment accounts support Transfer on Death (TOD) designations, others can be retitled into a trust, and some require probate if no beneficiary is designated. The sections below break down each step.
- Primary beneficiary: full legal name, date of birth, SSN, relationship
- Optionally add contingent beneficiaries (not available for Checking accounts)
- For trusts: provide trust name, date established, and TIN/EIN
- Allocate percentage shares (must total 100%)
Required Documents
- Trust name, date established, and tax ID (EIN or SSN)
Special Requirements
- TOD not available in Louisiana (state law restriction)
- Trusts can be named as beneficiaries for both taxable and retirement accounts
- Primary and contingent beneficiaries allowed (except Checking, which supports primary only)
- All beneficiary designations managed entirely online -- no paper forms
- Beneficiary designations generally take precedence over a will or trust
- You may change or revoke beneficiary designations at any time during your lifetime via the Betterment interface
- Betterment only supports accounts for individuals 18 or older; additional documentation may be required for minor beneficiaries
Sources
Data sourced from Betterment primary sources (29 pages reviewed). How we research.
Download these Betterment instructions
Download instructions for the whole estateA printable PDF with the steps, required documents, and contact details — verified against Betterment primary sources. Bring it to the branch or keep it beside the phone.
Customer Support
Betterment LLC, 450 West 33rd Street, FL 11, New York, NY 10001
Estate / Deceased Customer Transfers
Betterment Transfers, PO Box 207691, Dallas, TX 75320-7691 (overnight: Betterment Transfers, 2975 Regent Blvd, Suite 100, Lockbox Services 207691, Irving, TX 75063)
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