Estate planning and settlement at Empower
Name beneficiaries online, fund a trust by phone, and report a death at 1-866-442-3888
Empower is a retirement provider managing 14 retirement retirement accounts. These tax-advantaged accounts transfer by beneficiary designation—not by will—making it critical to keep designations current and aligned with broader estate planning goals.
Empower lets account holders update beneficiary designations online, by phone, and by mail. Trust funding is also available, allowing families to name a trust as the beneficiary of retirement accounts.
Empower has documented procedures for both preparing accounts during your lifetime and handling claims when an account holder passes away.
Beneficiaries and trust funding
How to manage beneficiaries online, fund a trust by mail, and review 14 account types at Empower.
Preparing your estate →Death claim process
Report the death to Empower's Beneficiary Support Services at 1-866-442-3888. The page lists the steps and the documents to send.
When someone dies →
Sources
Data sourced from Empower primary sources (22 pages reviewed). How we research.
Empower customer support
Phone
Workplace Plans (401(k), 403(b) and similar)
Investor Services, new or existing IRAs
Empower Brokerage / EFSI
Empower Personal Cash general support
Current plan sponsors, corporate 401(k) under $50M in assets
Current plan sponsors, corporate 401(k) over $50M in assets
Current plan sponsors, government, Taft-Hartley and others
Prospective plan sponsors, core markets ($0-$50M)
Prospective plan sponsors, large markets (over $50M)
Prospective plan sponsors, government and Taft-Hartley
Mailing address
Website
Estate planning articles
Learn how to protect your Empower accounts and other assets with trusts, beneficiary designations, and estate planning documents.
Forms for Planning Your Estate
Free forms for planning your estate: a will, living trust, pour-over will, both powers of attorney, living will, and TOD deed.
Last Will and Testament
Name your heirs, guardians, and final wishes. Free for every state.
Transfer on Death Deed
Transfer real property to a beneficiary upon your death without probate. Available in 34 states and the District of Columbia.
Vehicle Transfer on Death
Name a beneficiary to inherit your vehicle at death without probate. Available in 26 states and the District of Columbia.
Tools for Planning Your Estate
Free tools for planning your estate: what a will or trust costs, whether you need a trust or TOD deed, and how documents are signed.
How Do I Sign Estate Documents?
Find witness, notary, and remote signing requirements for all 50 states.
Will My Estate Documents Transfer?
Check if estate planning documents signed in one state are valid in another.
Trust or Will: Which Costs Less?
Compare the cost of probate vs a trust for your state and estate value.
How Much Does a Revocable Living Trust Cost?
Compare revocable living trust costs across providers including online services and attorneys.
How Much Does a Will Cost?
Compare will costs across providers plus probate costs your heirs will pay.
How Does SimplyTrust Compare to LegalZoom, Trust & Will, and Other Services?
Compare what it costs to make a trust official across SimplyTrust, LegalZoom, Trust & Will, Rocket Lawyer, and Quicken WillMaker.
