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)
WebsiteNotify online→
Verified Apr 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
- Some states require spousal consent when naming a non-spouse primary beneficiary on an IRA
- TOD registration on joint accounts may be prohibited in some states -- consult a tax advisor
- A trust can be named as beneficiary on IRA and TOD accounts
- If no beneficiary is named on an IRA, default order is: spouse, then children equally (deceased children's shares pass to grandchildren), then estate
- 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)
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)
WebsiteNotify online→
Verified Apr 2026
Estate planning articles
Learn how to protect your Capital Group accounts and other assets with trusts, beneficiary designations, and estate planning documents.
