How to name beneficiaries and fund a trust at D.A. Davidson

Toll-Free1-800-332-5915

Mailing Address

8 Third Street North, Great Falls, MT 59401

WebsiteLearn more→

D.A. Davidson Trust Company

Toll-Free1-800-332-5915

Mailing Address

D.A. Davidson Trust Company, 8 Third Street North, Suite 200, Great Falls, MT 59401

WebsiteLearn more→

Estate Settlement / Death Claims (handled via decedent's D.A. Davidson financial advisor or D.A. Davidson Trust Company)

Toll-Free1-800-332-5915

Download instructions for the whole estate

Fax1-406-727-1485

Mailing Address

D.A. Davidson & Co., Attn: Estate Settlement, 8 Third Street North, Great Falls, MT 59401

Verified Jul 2026

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.

D.A. Davidson Brokerage AccountJoint Brokerage AccountDADVANTAGE Asset Management AccountDavidson Investment Advisors (DIA) Managed AccountManaged Funds Portfolio (MFP)Unified Managed Account (UMA)Separate Account Management (SAM)Paragon Advisory ProgramChoice Advisory ProgramD.A. Davidson Trust Account

Visit your D.A. Davidson financial advisor at their local office

Bring government-issued photo ID

Advisor provides the TOD Agreement (brokerage) or IRA Beneficiary Designation form (retirement)

Complete the form with beneficiary details:

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%

Sign and date the form; advisor submits for processing

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

SimplyTrust Editorial·Updated July 12, 2026

Sources

Data sourced from D.A. Davidson primary sources (19 pages reviewed). How we research.

Download these D.A. Davidson instructions

A 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.

I understand these instructions are general guidance and can change. I will confirm current requirements with D.A. Davidson.I understand this is not legal advice; a licensed attorney handles legal questions.Send me helpful estate planning resources and updates

First name *

Last name *

Email address *

D.A. Davidson

Subsidiary of D.A. Davidson Companies

Toll-Free1-800-332-5915

Mailing Address

8 Third Street North, Great Falls, MT 59401

WebsiteLearn more→

D.A. Davidson Trust Company

Toll-Free1-800-332-5915

Mailing Address

D.A. Davidson Trust Company, 8 Third Street North, Suite 200, Great Falls, MT 59401

WebsiteLearn more→

Estate Settlement / Death Claims (handled via decedent's D.A. Davidson financial advisor or D.A. Davidson Trust Company)

Toll-Free1-800-332-5915

Fax1-406-727-1485

Mailing Address

D.A. Davidson & Co., Attn: Estate Settlement, 8 Third Street North, Great Falls, MT 59401

Verified Jul 2026

Estate planning articles

Learn how to protect your D.A. Davidson accounts and other assets with trusts, beneficiary designations, and estate planning documents.

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

D.A. Davidson

Subsidiary of D.A. Davidson Companies

Toll-Free1-800-332-5915

Mailing Address

8 Third Street North, Great Falls, MT 59401

WebsiteLearn more→

D.A. Davidson Trust Company

Toll-Free1-800-332-5915

Mailing Address

D.A. Davidson Trust Company, 8 Third Street North, Suite 200, Great Falls, MT 59401

WebsiteLearn more→

Estate Settlement / Death Claims (handled via decedent's D.A. Davidson financial advisor or D.A. Davidson Trust Company)

Toll-Free1-800-332-5915

Download instructions for the whole estate

Fax1-406-727-1485

Mailing Address

D.A. Davidson & Co., Attn: Estate Settlement, 8 Third Street North, Great Falls, MT 59401

Verified Jul 2026

Visit your D.A. Davidson financial advisor at their local office

Bring government-issued photo ID

Advisor provides the TOD Agreement (brokerage) or IRA Beneficiary Designation form (retirement)

Complete the form with beneficiary details:

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%

Sign and date the form; advisor submits for processing

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

SimplyTrust Editorial·Updated July 12, 2026

Sources

Data sourced from D.A. Davidson primary sources (19 pages reviewed). How we research.

Download these D.A. Davidson instructions

A 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.

First name *

Last name *

Email address *

D.A. Davidson

Subsidiary of D.A. Davidson Companies

Toll-Free1-800-332-5915

Mailing Address

8 Third Street North, Great Falls, MT 59401

WebsiteLearn more→

D.A. Davidson Trust Company

Toll-Free1-800-332-5915

Mailing Address

D.A. Davidson Trust Company, 8 Third Street North, Suite 200, Great Falls, MT 59401

WebsiteLearn more→

Estate Settlement / Death Claims (handled via decedent's D.A. Davidson financial advisor or D.A. Davidson Trust Company)

Toll-Free1-800-332-5915

Fax1-406-727-1485

Mailing Address

D.A. Davidson & Co., Attn: Estate Settlement, 8 Third Street North, Great Falls, MT 59401

Verified Jul 2026

Estate planning articles

Learn how to protect your D.A. Davidson accounts and other assets with trusts, beneficiary designations, and estate planning documents.

Estate planning articles

Learn how to protect your D.A. Davidson accounts and other assets with trusts, beneficiary designations, and estate planning documents.

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