How to name beneficiaries and fund a trust at D.A. Davidson
Covers 10 investment, 5 retirement, and 1 insurance accounts — beneficiaries must be updated in-branch
8 Third Street North, Great Falls, MT 59401
D.A. Davidson Trust Company
D.A. Davidson Trust Company, 8 Third Street North, Suite 200, Great Falls, MT 59401
Estate Settlement / Death Claims (handled via decedent's D.A. Davidson financial advisor or D.A. Davidson Trust Company)
D.A. Davidson & Co., Attn: Estate Settlement, 8 Third Street North, Great Falls, MT 59401
Preparing your D.A. Davidson investment accounts for estate transfer involves two primary strategies: designating beneficiaries on individual accounts and, where supported, retitling accounts into a revocable living trust. Both approaches bypass probate, but they work differently depending on the account type.
D.A. Davidson 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.
- Provide each beneficiary's full legal name, date of birth, SSN, relationship, address, and percentage allocation
- Designate primary and contingent beneficiaries with allocations totaling 100%
Required Documents
- Trust name, date established, and tax ID (EIN or SSN)
Special Requirements
- All beneficiary changes handled through assigned financial advisor
- No confirmed self-service online beneficiary management portal
- TOD designation supersedes will provisions for the account
- Beneficiaries named on the form replace any existing beneficiary information
- All primary and contingent beneficiaries must be listed even when changing only one
Sources
Data sourced from D.A. Davidson primary sources (19 pages reviewed). How we research.
Download these D.A. Davidson instructions
Download instructions for the whole estateA printable PDF with the steps, required documents, and contact details — verified against D.A. Davidson primary sources. Bring it to the branch or keep it beside the phone.
8 Third Street North, Great Falls, MT 59401
D.A. Davidson Trust Company
D.A. Davidson Trust Company, 8 Third Street North, Suite 200, Great Falls, MT 59401
Estate Settlement / Death Claims (handled via decedent's D.A. Davidson financial advisor or D.A. Davidson Trust Company)
D.A. Davidson & Co., Attn: Estate Settlement, 8 Third Street North, Great Falls, MT 59401
Estate planning articles
Learn how to protect your D.A. Davidson 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.






