How to name beneficiaries and fund a trust at Dimensional
Covers 5 investment, and 2 retirement accounts — beneficiaries can be updated by phone
Dimensional Fund Advisors - Shareholder Services
Dimensional Fund Advisors LP, 6300 Bee Cave Road, Building One, Austin, TX 78746
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.
SS&C GIDS, Inc., 1055 Broadway Boulevard, Kansas City, MO 64105
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.
SS&C GIDS, Inc., 1055 Broadway Boulevard, Kansas City, MO 64105
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.
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
Sources
Data sourced from Dimensional primary sources (18 pages reviewed). How we research.
Download these Dimensional instructions
Download instructions for the whole estateA 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 Fund Advisors - Shareholder Services
Dimensional Fund Advisors LP, 6300 Bee Cave Road, Building One, Austin, TX 78746
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.
SS&C GIDS, Inc., 1055 Broadway Boulevard, Kansas City, MO 64105
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.
SS&C GIDS, Inc., 1055 Broadway Boulevard, Kansas City, MO 64105
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