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OverviewPreparing your estateWhen someone dies
OverviewPreparing your estateWhen someone dies
SimplyTrust forms
Letter of Instruction
Home→Financial Institutions→Dimensional→Preparing your estate

How to name beneficiaries and fund a trust at Dimensional

Covers 5 investment, and 2 retirement accounts — beneficiaries can be updated by phone

Dimensional

Brokerage · Nationwide

dimensional.com→
Dimensional logo

Dimensional Fund Advisors - Shareholder Services

Phone1-512-306-7400
Toll-Free1-888-576-1167
Fax1-512-306-7499
Mailing Address

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP, 6300 Bee Cave Road, Building One, Austin, TX 78746

Financial Advisors
1-512-306-4308
Institutional Investors
1-512-306-4411
WebsiteLearn more→

SS&C GIDS, Inc. (Transfer Agent and Dividend Disbursing Agent) - Handles trust registrations, beneficiary designations, and estate re-registrations for mutual fund shares held on the transfer agent's books. For ETFs held at a brokerage, contact the brokerage directly.

Phone1-888-576-1167
Mailing Address

SS&C GIDS, Inc., 1055 Broadway Boulevard, Kansas City, MO 64105

WebsiteLearn more→

SS&C GIDS, Inc. (Transfer Agent) - Estate re-registrations and redemptions for directly held Dimensional mutual fund shares. Dimensional itself does not take retail estate claims. For ETFs held at a brokerage, contact the brokerage firm. For 401(k)/403(b), 529, HSA, or variable annuity holdings, contact the plan administrator or plan provider.

Phone1-888-576-1167
Toll-Free1-888-576-1167
Mailing Address

SS&C GIDS, Inc., 1055 Broadway Boulevard, Kansas City, MO 64105

WebsiteNotify online→
Verified Jul 2026

There are two ways to keep your Dimensional investment accounts out of probate: adding beneficiary designations and retitling eligible accounts into a revocable living trust. Which approach works best depends on the account type and your overall estate plan.

Dimensional has 7 investment accounts with different estate transfer rules. Here is how beneficiary designations, trust ownership, and probate apply to each one.

Dimensional ETFsDimensional Equity Mutual FundsDimensional Fixed Income Mutual FundsDimensional Funds in 529 Plans and HSAsDimensional Separately Managed Account (SMA)
1
Call SS&C GIDS, Inc. at 1-888-576-1167
2
Request a beneficiary designation or TOD form be mailed to you
3
If your shares were bought through a financial advisor, ask your advisor to submit the registration change — the funds direct intermediary-held shareholders to their intermediary for account procedures
4
Complete, sign, and return the form by mail to SS&C GIDS, Inc., 1055 Broadway Boulevard, Kansas City, MO 64105

Required Documents

  • Trust name, date established, and tax ID (EIN or SSN)

Special Requirements

  • ETF beneficiary designations are managed by the brokerage holding the shares, not by Dimensional directly
  • Mutual fund shares held directly are serviced by transfer agent SS&C GIDS, Inc., 1055 Broadway Boulevard, Kansas City, MO 64105
  • Dimensional funds are sold only to Eligible Investors (institutional clients, advisor clients, clients of financial institutions), so most designations are submitted through the financial advisor of record
  • Retirement plan beneficiary designations are governed by plan documents and the plan administrator
  • Spousal consent may be required for retirement accounts under ERISA rules
  • TOD designations supersede will provisions for the account
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust Editorial·Updated July 12, 2026

Sources

  • dimensional.com
  • adviserinfo.sec.gov
  • sec.gov

Data sourced from Dimensional primary sources (18 pages reviewed). How we research.

Download these Dimensional instructions

Download instructions for the whole estate→

A printable PDF with the steps, required documents, and contact details — verified against Dimensional primary sources. Bring it to the branch or keep it beside the phone.

Dimensional

Brokerage · Nationwide

dimensional.com→
Dimensional logo

Dimensional Fund Advisors - Shareholder Services

Phone1-512-306-7400
Toll-Free1-888-576-1167
Fax1-512-306-7499
Mailing Address

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP, 6300 Bee Cave Road, Building One, Austin, TX 78746

Financial Advisors
1-512-306-4308
Institutional Investors
1-512-306-4411
WebsiteLearn more→

SS&C GIDS, Inc. (Transfer Agent and Dividend Disbursing Agent) - Handles trust registrations, beneficiary designations, and estate re-registrations for mutual fund shares held on the transfer agent's books. For ETFs held at a brokerage, contact the brokerage directly.

Phone1-888-576-1167
Mailing Address

SS&C GIDS, Inc., 1055 Broadway Boulevard, Kansas City, MO 64105

WebsiteLearn more→

SS&C GIDS, Inc. (Transfer Agent) - Estate re-registrations and redemptions for directly held Dimensional mutual fund shares. Dimensional itself does not take retail estate claims. For ETFs held at a brokerage, contact the brokerage firm. For 401(k)/403(b), 529, HSA, or variable annuity holdings, contact the plan administrator or plan provider.

Phone1-888-576-1167
Toll-Free1-888-576-1167
Mailing Address

SS&C GIDS, Inc., 1055 Broadway Boulevard, Kansas City, MO 64105

WebsiteNotify online→
Verified Jul 2026

Estate planning articles

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

When you're ready, we're here.

A revocable living trust skips probate, stays private, and takes 15 minutes.

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Estate planning articles

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

Reimbursable Trustee Expenses: A Clear Overview

Reimbursable Trustee Expenses: A Clear Overview

Which trustee expenses does a trust reimburse?
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Refundable Executor Expenses: What Estates Cover

Refundable Executor Expenses: What Estates Cover

Learn which out-of-pocket costs executors recover from estates.
Estate Settlement
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Dave Ramsey on Trusts: What We Agree and Disagree On

Dave Ramsey on Trusts: What We Agree and Disagree On

Dave Ramsey on trusts: any estate plan at all is a good thing. We agree about that. There's one thing we don't agree with him about on trusts, though.
Trusts
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialJuly 6, 2026
Jean Chatzky on Estate Planning: It’s a Gift

Jean Chatzky on Estate Planning: It’s a Gift

On estate planning, Jean Chatzky's most important reframe may be the simplest one. She says estate planning isn’t about your passing, it’s about your love for family.
Estate Planning
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialJuly 6, 2026
Robert Kiyosaki on Trusts: A Structural Necessity

Robert Kiyosaki on Trusts: A Structural Necessity

According to Robert Kiyosaki, trusts are a necessity for everyone, not only the wealthy.
Trusts
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialJune 30, 2026
Ramit Sethi on Estate Planning: Start With a Living Trust

Ramit Sethi on Estate Planning: Start With a Living Trust

Ramit Sethi on estate planning: start with a living trust and have regular conversations with your heirs about how to manage finances when the trust becomes active.
Trusts
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialJune 30, 2026

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New Baby or Adoption

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.

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Marriage

Marriage

What married couples need in place: one joint trust or two, wills, beneficiary updates, and the spousal rights your state grants you automatically.

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New Home

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.

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Retirement

Retirement

Retirement changes your financial picture. Healthcare directives, beneficiary reviews, long-term care planning, and protecting what you've built.

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