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
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)
Shareholder Services
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)
Inherited Assets / Death Claims
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)
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.
- Full name and relationship
- Address
- Date of birth and/or Social Security number
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
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)
Shareholder Services
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)
Inherited Assets / Death Claims
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)
Estate planning articles
Learn how to protect your Capital Group 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 moreMore estate planning resources
Explore related tools and documents to complete your estate plan.
How Much Does Probate Cost?
Estimate attorney fees, executor fees, court costs, and timeline for probating an estate in your state. See if the estate qualifies for simplified probate procedures.
Who Inherits Without a Will?
Find out who inherits your estate and how much they get if you die without a will. Based on your state's intestate succession laws.
How Much Are Estate & Inheritance Taxes?
Calculate federal estate tax, state estate tax (12 states + DC), and inheritance tax (5 states) for an estate or trust.
What Does Estate Planning Actually Cost?
See the true cost of estate planning. Compare SimplyTrust, Trust & Will, LegalZoom, and attorneys including life events like marriage, divorce, and having children.
How Much Does a Revocable Living Trust Cost?
Compare the cost of creating a revocable living trust. See how SimplyTrust, Trust & Will, LegalZoom, and attorneys compare over 5 years including life events.
How Much Does a Will Cost?
Compare the cost of creating a will. See document costs plus probate fees your heirs will pay. Compare SimplyTrust, Trust & Will, LegalZoom, and attorneys.
