How to name beneficiaries and fund a trust at Edelman Financial
Covers 2 investment, and 6 retirement accounts — beneficiaries can be managed online
Edelman Financial Engines (main line)
Estate Planning Services (planner-delivered; EFE does not draft legal documents)
No EFE claims department -- notify the planner, then file the claim with the custodian (Schwab, Fidelity, or Axos Advisor Services) or the workplace plan recordkeeper
Preparing your Edelman Financial 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.
The transfer rules at Edelman Financial vary across 8 investment accounts. Below is a breakdown of beneficiary options, trust funding, and which products support each method.
Required Documents
- Trust name, date established, and tax ID (EIN or SSN)
Special Requirements
- EFE does not maintain the beneficiary designation of record -- the custodian (Schwab, Fidelity, or Axos Advisor Services) or the employer plan recordkeeper does. A designation discussed with a planner but never filed with the custodian is not in effect
- TOD registration on a taxable brokerage account is a custodian registration, not an EFE service
- Workplace plan designations are governed by the plan document; under ERISA a married participant's spouse takes the 401(k) unless the spouse signs a written consent
- A named beneficiary or TOD registration overrides your will and, unless the trust is the named beneficiary, overrides your trust
- EFE and its affiliates do not provide legal advice and do not draft estate documents; the planner works with your attorney
Sources
Data sourced from Edelman Financial primary sources (16 pages reviewed). How we research.
Download these Edelman Financial instructions
Download instructions for the whole estateA printable PDF with the steps, required documents, and contact details — verified against Edelman Financial primary sources. Bring it to the branch or keep it beside the phone.
Edelman Financial Engines (main line)
Estate Planning Services (planner-delivered; EFE does not draft legal documents)
No EFE claims department -- notify the planner, then file the claim with the custodian (Schwab, Fidelity, or Axos Advisor Services) or the workplace plan recordkeeper
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