How to name beneficiaries and fund a trust at Cerity Partners
Covers 4 investment, 4 retirement, and 1 insurance accounts — beneficiaries must be updated in-branch
Cerity Partners (main line)
Phone1-212-202-1810
Fax1-212-937-1942
Mailing Address
Cerity Partners LLC, 99 Park Avenue, 16th Floor, New York, NY 10016
Principal office line listed on Form ADV Item 1.F(3)
WebsiteLearn more→
Estate & Gift Planning
Phone1-212-202-1810
Mailing Address
Cerity Partners LLC, 99 Park Avenue, 16th Floor, New York, NY 10016
WebsiteLearn more→
No dedicated estates or claims department. Notification runs through the deceased client's advisor (or the main line), and the account is settled by the custodian.
Phone1-212-202-1810
Mailing Address
Cerity Partners LLC, 99 Park Avenue, 16th Floor, New York, NY 10016
Charles Schwab Estate Services (custodian; Mon-Fri 8:30 AM - 8:00 PM ET)
Fidelity Transition Services (custodian)
WebsiteNotify online→
Verified Jul 2026
Estate planning for your Cerity Partners 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.
Cerity Partners offers 9 investment accounts, each with its own transfer rules. The sections below cover how to set up beneficiaries, fund a trust, and which products support each approach.
Individual Advisory AccountJoint Advisory AccountTrust ServicesTrust Advisory Account
1
Schedule a meeting at your Cerity Partners office (the New York headquarters is 99 Park Avenue, 16th Floor, New York, NY 10016; other offices are listed at https://www.ceritypartners.com/locations/)
2
Bring government-issued photo ID and, if a trust will be the beneficiary, a copy of the trust or Certificate of Trust
3
The advisor prints the correct custodian form (Charles Schwab or Fidelity) for each account
4
Complete the form with beneficiary details:
- Full legal name, date of birth, SSN, relationship, and allocation percentage per beneficiary
- Taxable advisory accounts use the custodian's TOD agreement; IRAs use the custodian's IRA beneficiary form
5
Sign with the advisor present and leave the original with the advisor for submission to the custodian
Required Documents
- Trust name, date established, and tax ID (EIN or SSN)
Special Requirements
- Advisor-mediated: Cerity Partners does not offer a consumer login where you can add or change a beneficiary yourself, and it publishes no beneficiary form of its own
- The operative form belongs to the custodian, so it differs depending on whether your account sits at Charles Schwab or at Fidelity
- A named beneficiary on the custodian's form controls the account at death and overrides your will
- Naming a trust as an IRA beneficiary requires the exact trust name, date, and tax ID on the custodian's form
- For an employer retirement plan, ERISA requires written spousal consent to name a non-spouse beneficiary
Sources
Data sourced from Cerity Partners primary sources (19 pages reviewed). How we research.
Download these Cerity Partners instructions
Download instructions for the whole estateA printable PDF with the steps, required documents, and contact details — verified against Cerity Partners primary sources. Bring it to the branch or keep it beside the phone.
Cerity Partners (main line)
Phone1-212-202-1810
Fax1-212-937-1942
Mailing Address
Cerity Partners LLC, 99 Park Avenue, 16th Floor, New York, NY 10016
Principal office line listed on Form ADV Item 1.F(3)
WebsiteLearn more→
Estate & Gift Planning
Phone1-212-202-1810
Mailing Address
Cerity Partners LLC, 99 Park Avenue, 16th Floor, New York, NY 10016
WebsiteLearn more→
No dedicated estates or claims department. Notification runs through the deceased client's advisor (or the main line), and the account is settled by the custodian.
Phone1-212-202-1810
Mailing Address
Cerity Partners LLC, 99 Park Avenue, 16th Floor, New York, NY 10016
Charles Schwab Estate Services (custodian; Mon-Fri 8:30 AM - 8:00 PM ET)
Fidelity Transition Services (custodian)
WebsiteNotify online→
Verified Jul 2026
Estate planning articles
Learn how to protect your Cerity Partners accounts and other assets with trusts, beneficiary designations, and estate planning documents.
