What to do when a Cetera account holder dies

On a TOD account, the custodian moves the assets to the named beneficiaries directly, outside probate, once it has the death certificate, the beneficiary's ID and the beneficiary paperwork.¹

The surviving owner keeps the account once the death certificate is on file.¹

With no beneficiary and no survivorship, the custodian needs the certified Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration, and the transfer waits on the Letters from the court. A state small estate affidavit may substitute where the estate qualifies.¹

The beneficiary named on the IRA adoption agreement claims the account. Cetera Investment Services keeps IRA Traditional Inherited and IRA Roth Inherited Adoption Agreements for the receiving account.¹

IRAs held at Cetera Investment Services are in its own custody, with Pershing acting as third-party custodian for certain IRA types: it holds the securities, collects principal, interest and dividend payments, and produces the tax reporting.¹

Where Cetera Trust Company, N.A. is the named trustee, the account settles under the trust document, not a beneficiary form. On the grantor's death it assumes administration immediately, and a three-person team handles distributions, tax reporting and beneficiary communication.¹

A life insurance death benefit is paid by the issuing insurer, not by Cetera or the securities custodian. Claim it from the insurer on its own claim form.¹

A variable annuity death benefit is paid by the issuing insurer, not by Cetera or the securities custodian. Claim it from the insurer on its own claim form.¹

Custody and clearing for Cetera Advisors, Cetera Financial Specialists and part of Cetera Wealth Services^{2, 3, 4, 5}

Custody and clearing for part of Cetera Wealth Services; the Fidelity clearing arm^{2, 5}

Custody of its own clients' accounts, as a self-clearing broker-dealer and IRA custodian^{2, 6}

Custody of some accounts of Cetera Investment Advisers clients²

Trust accounts where Cetera Trust Company is the named trustee¹

Client service when the advisor or broker-dealer is unknown; a service of Cetera Advisors LLC⁷

A checklist for when a spouse or parent passes, in the Cetera Investor Center resource center. It is general estate-settlement guidance syndicated by FMG Suite, not a Cetera claims form.⁸