How to name beneficiaries and fund a trust at Capital Group
Covers 28 investment, and 4 retirement accounts — beneficiaries can be managed online
Shareholder Services
Phone(800) 421-4225
Fax(888) 421-4351
Mailing Address
American Funds Service Company, P.O. Box 6007, Indianapolis, IN 46206-6007 (western/central states and international) or P.O. Box 2280, Norfolk, VA 23501-2280 (eastern states)
International (Norfolk)
International (Los Angeles)
Website Assistance
WebsiteLearn more→
Shareholder Services
Phone(800) 421-4225
Fax(888) 421-4351
Mailing Address
American Funds Service Company, P.O. Box 6007, Indianapolis, IN 46206-6007 (western/central states and international) or P.O. Box 2280, Norfolk, VA 23501-2280 (eastern states)
International (Norfolk)
International (Los Angeles)
Website Assistance
WebsiteLearn more→
Inherited Assets / Death Claims
Phone(800) 421-4225
Fax(888) 421-4351
Mailing Address
American Funds Service Company, P.O. Box 6007, Indianapolis, IN 46206-6007 (western/central states and international) or P.O. Box 2280, Norfolk, VA 23501-2280 (eastern states)
Capital Bank and Trust Company IRAs / retirement plan accounts
RecordkeeperDirect retirement plan accounts
WebsiteNotify online→
Verified Jul 2026
Estate planning for your Capital Group investment accounts starts with understanding how each one transfers at death. Beneficiary designations and trust retitling both bypass probate, but the right approach depends on the account type, your tax situation, and how much control you want over distributions.
Across 32 product types, Capital Group investment accounts vary in how they transfer at death. The sections below walk through Transfer on Death (TOD) designations, trust funding options, and which products support each method.
The Growth Fund of AmericaAMCAP FundNew Perspective FundSMALLCAP World FundEuroPacific Growth FundNew World FundThe Investment Company of AmericaWashington Mutual Investors FundFundamental InvestorsAmerican Mutual FundCapital World Growth and Income FundThe Income Fund of AmericaCapital Income BuilderAmerican Balanced FundThe Bond Fund of AmericaIntermediate Bond Fund of AmericaShort-Term Bond Fund of AmericaU.S. Government Securities FundAmerican High-Income TrustThe Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of AmericaLimited Term Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of AmericaAmerican Funds U.S. Government Money Market FundAmerican Funds Target Date Retirement SeriesAmerican Funds Portfolio SeriesCapital Group Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs)CollegeAmerica 529 Savings PlanABLEAmerica AccountUGMA/UTMA Custodial Account
1
Log in at capitalgroup.com/individual/accounts/portfolio/beneficiaries.htm
2
Click "View" under Beneficiary Information
3
Click "Update" to make changes
4
Enter beneficiary details:
- Full name and relationship
- Address
- Date of birth and/or Social Security number
5
Allocate percentages in whole numbers totaling 100%
6
Confirm and submit -- updates replace all existing beneficiaries
Required Documents
- Trust name, date established, and tax ID (EIN or SSN)
Special Requirements
- Beneficiary allocations must be in whole percentages and total exactly 100%
- Beneficiary updates replace all existing beneficiaries on the account -- partial updates are not permitted
- Each IRA must have its own separate beneficiary designation
- A married IRA owner who names a primary beneficiary other than the spouse may need the spouse to sign the spousal-consent section; if spousal consent is not required, IRA beneficiaries can be updated online at capitalgroup.com
- TOD registration can only be used on accounts registered as Individual or Joint Tenants With Rights of Survivorship; some states have not adopted the Uniform TOD Security Registration Act, in which case the account is administered under the California TOD Act
- Louisiana residents completing the TOD form must have the account owner's signature notarized OR have two witnesses (who are not named beneficiaries) sign; a notarized TOD form must be mailed and cannot be uploaded
- A trust can be named as beneficiary on IRA and TOD accounts -- provide the full legal name of the trust; the IRA Beneficiary Change form expressly cannot accept designations that reference a "will" or a "trust under will" (testamentary trust)
- If no beneficiary is named on an IRA, the IRA is distributed under the Custodial Agreement default order: surviving spouse, then children equally (a deceased child's share passes to grandchildren), then estate
- Capital Group forms cannot be signed using Adobe Acrobat Reader's "fill and sign" feature -- a wet or compliant electronic signature is required
- Forms requiring a signature guarantee, original certification, or notary must be mailed and cannot be submitted electronically
- A TOD beneficiary does not have ownership or account access during the lifetime of the account owner(s)
Sources
Data sourced from Capital Group primary sources (22 pages reviewed). How we research.
Download these Capital Group instructions
Download instructions for the whole estateA printable PDF with the steps, required documents, and contact details — verified against Capital Group primary sources. Bring it to the branch or keep it beside the phone.
Shareholder Services
Phone(800) 421-4225
Fax(888) 421-4351
Mailing Address
American Funds Service Company, P.O. Box 6007, Indianapolis, IN 46206-6007 (western/central states and international) or P.O. Box 2280, Norfolk, VA 23501-2280 (eastern states)
International (Norfolk)
International (Los Angeles)
Website Assistance
WebsiteLearn more→
Shareholder Services
Phone(800) 421-4225
Fax(888) 421-4351
Mailing Address
American Funds Service Company, P.O. Box 6007, Indianapolis, IN 46206-6007 (western/central states and international) or P.O. Box 2280, Norfolk, VA 23501-2280 (eastern states)
International (Norfolk)
International (Los Angeles)
Website Assistance
WebsiteLearn more→
Inherited Assets / Death Claims
Phone(800) 421-4225
Fax(888) 421-4351
Mailing Address
American Funds Service Company, P.O. Box 6007, Indianapolis, IN 46206-6007 (western/central states and international) or P.O. Box 2280, Norfolk, VA 23501-2280 (eastern states)
Capital Bank and Trust Company IRAs / retirement plan accounts
RecordkeeperDirect retirement plan accounts
WebsiteNotify online→
Verified Jul 2026
Estate planning articles
Learn how to protect your Capital Group accounts and other assets with trusts, beneficiary designations, and estate planning documents.
