How to name beneficiaries and fund a trust at Schwab
Covers 7 investment, 2 deposit, and 7 retirement accounts — beneficiaries can be managed online
Charles Schwab, 211 Main Street, San Francisco, CA 94105
Estate Services / Inheritance Center
Charles Schwab Corporation, Attn: Estate Distribution Team, 2423 E. Lincoln Drive, Phoenix, AZ 85016-1215
The key to protecting your Schwab investment accounts is making sure each one has a transfer mechanism in place—either a beneficiary designation or trust ownership. Without one, the account goes through probate, adding time, cost, and court involvement for your family.
Schwab has 16 product types, and the estate transfer rules differ across them. Some support Transfer on Death (TOD) designations, some can be retitled into a trust, and others will require probate if nothing is set up. Each is covered below.
- Choose to add primary and/or contingent beneficiaries
- Provide beneficiary name, relationship, date of birth, and SSN (optional)
- For trusts: provide trust name, date established, and EIN
- Specify percentage allocation for each beneficiary (must total 100%)
Required Documents
- Trust name, date established, and tax ID (EIN or SSN)
Special Requirements
- Trusts can be named as beneficiaries on brokerage and retirement accounts
- The Designated Beneficiary Plan generally takes precedence over wills or trusts
- Beneficiary information fields include SSN, date of birth, phone, and mailing address to help Schwab contact or verify heirs
- The Designated Beneficiary Plan (TOD) is NOT available to Louisiana residents or to accounts with a primary address outside the United States
Sources
Data sourced from Schwab primary sources (20 pages reviewed). How we research.
Download these Schwab instructions
Download instructions for the whole estateA printable PDF with the steps, required documents, and contact details — verified against Schwab primary sources. Bring it to the branch or keep it beside the phone.
Charles Schwab, 211 Main Street, San Francisco, CA 94105
Estate Services / Inheritance Center
Charles Schwab Corporation, Attn: Estate Distribution Team, 2423 E. Lincoln Drive, Phoenix, AZ 85016-1215
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