How to name beneficiaries and fund a trust at Cambridge
Covers 5 investment, 1 deposit, and 5 retirement accounts — beneficiaries must be updated in-branch
Cambridge Client Services
1776 Pleasant Plain Road, Fairfield, IA 52556-8757
Cambridge Client Services
1776 Pleasant Plain Road, Fairfield, IA 52556-8757
Estate Settlement (via Financial Advisor)
Cambridge Investment Research, Inc., 1776 Pleasant Plain Road, Fairfield, IA 52556-8757
Preparing your Cambridge 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 11 product types, Cambridge 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.
- Full legal name, date of birth, SSN, relationship, and allocation percentages
- For trusts as beneficiary: provide trust name, date established, and tax ID number
Required Documents
- Trust name, date established, and tax ID (EIN or SSN)
Special Requirements
- Advisor-mediated process -- consumers do not open accounts directly with Cambridge
- Forms vary by clearing firm (NFS or Pershing)
- Named beneficiaries override your will
- Cambridge advisors frequently work alongside CPAs and estate attorneys for coordinated planning
Sources
Data sourced from Cambridge primary sources (15 pages reviewed). How we research.
Download these Cambridge instructions
Download instructions for the whole estateA printable PDF with the steps, required documents, and contact details — verified against Cambridge primary sources. Bring it to the branch or keep it beside the phone.
Cambridge Client Services
1776 Pleasant Plain Road, Fairfield, IA 52556-8757
Cambridge Client Services
1776 Pleasant Plain Road, Fairfield, IA 52556-8757
Estate Settlement (via Financial Advisor)
Cambridge Investment Research, Inc., 1776 Pleasant Plain Road, Fairfield, IA 52556-8757
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