How to name beneficiaries and fund a trust at EP Wealth
Covers 3 investment, and 6 retirement accounts — beneficiaries can be managed online
Client Services
Phone310-543-4559
Toll-Free1-877-390-3330
Fax310-316-0401
Mailing Address
EP Wealth Advisors, LLC, 21535 Hawthorne Blvd, Suite 400, Torrance, CA 90503
WebsiteLearn more→
Estate Planning Services (advisory coordination; EP Wealth is not a law firm and does not draft documents)
Phone310-543-4559
Toll-Free1-877-390-3330
WebsiteLearn more→
Death notification and estate coordination — claims are filed with the ACCOUNT CUSTODIAN (Charles Schwab or Fidelity); the EP Wealth advisor coordinates
Phone310-543-4559
Toll-Free1-877-390-3330
Mailing Address
EP Wealth Advisors, LLC, 21535 Hawthorne Blvd, Suite 400, Torrance, CA 90503 (advisor coordination only — send claim paperwork to the custodian address printed on the custodian's form)
Charles Schwab — Estate Services / Inheritance (custodian; files the claim)
Fidelity — Inheritance and transition services (custodian; files the claim)
WebsiteNotify online→
Verified Jul 2026
There are two ways to keep your EP Wealth 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.
EP Wealth has 9 investment accounts with different estate transfer rules. Here is how beneficiary designations, trust ownership, and probate apply to each one.
Wealth Management AccountManaged Taxable AccountTrust Investment Account
1
Log in to the CUSTODIAN's platform where the account is actually held — Schwab (https://www.schwab.com) or Fidelity (https://www.fidelity.com). EP Wealth's own client login (eMoney / e-Statements at https://www.epwealth.com) is a planning and reporting portal; it does not hold the beneficiary designation of record.
2
Open the beneficiary designation section for the specific account (Schwab lists it under account profile / beneficiaries; Fidelity under Account Features > Beneficiaries).
3
Add or update primary and contingent beneficiaries with full legal name, date of birth, Social Security number, relationship and percentage allocation totaling 100%.
4
To name a trust, enter the exact trust name, the date of the trust agreement and the trust's tax identification number as the custodian's form requires.
5
Submit through the custodian and keep the confirmation; then send a copy to your EP Wealth advisor so the designation is reflected in your plan.
6
Confirm the change appears on the next custodial account statement.
Required Documents
- Trust name, date established, and tax ID (EIN or SSN)
Special Requirements
- The beneficiary designation of record lives with the CUSTODIAN (Schwab or Fidelity), not with EP Wealth. A change discussed with your advisor is not effective until the custodian processes its form.
- Named beneficiaries and TOD registrations override the will and trust for those accounts.
- Spousal consent is required to name a non-spouse beneficiary on an ERISA employer plan.
- IRAs cannot be retitled to a trust; a trust can only be the beneficiary.
- EP Wealth reviews designations after marriage, divorce, birth and death and at plan reviews.
Sources
Data sourced from EP Wealth primary sources (19 pages reviewed). How we research.
Download these EP Wealth instructions
Download instructions for the whole estateA printable PDF with the steps, required documents, and contact details — verified against EP Wealth primary sources. Bring it to the branch or keep it beside the phone.
Client Services
Phone310-543-4559
Toll-Free1-877-390-3330
Fax310-316-0401
Mailing Address
EP Wealth Advisors, LLC, 21535 Hawthorne Blvd, Suite 400, Torrance, CA 90503
WebsiteLearn more→
Estate Planning Services (advisory coordination; EP Wealth is not a law firm and does not draft documents)
Phone310-543-4559
Toll-Free1-877-390-3330
WebsiteLearn more→
Death notification and estate coordination — claims are filed with the ACCOUNT CUSTODIAN (Charles Schwab or Fidelity); the EP Wealth advisor coordinates
Phone310-543-4559
Toll-Free1-877-390-3330
Mailing Address
EP Wealth Advisors, LLC, 21535 Hawthorne Blvd, Suite 400, Torrance, CA 90503 (advisor coordination only — send claim paperwork to the custodian address printed on the custodian's form)
Charles Schwab — Estate Services / Inheritance (custodian; files the claim)
Fidelity — Inheritance and transition services (custodian; files the claim)
WebsiteNotify online→
Verified Jul 2026
Estate planning articles
Learn how to protect your EP Wealth accounts and other assets with trusts, beneficiary designations, and estate planning documents.
