How to name beneficiaries and fund a trust at Equitable

"Assign a Beneficiary" forms for annuity contracts are contract-specific and can be reached only after logging in to the Equitable portal.^{1, 2}

A trust can be named beneficiary on a life insurance policy.³

A trust can be named beneficiary on an annuity contract. At claim time Equitable requires its Certification of Trust form to identify the trustee, the beneficiary and the trust TIN.⁴

The form names primary and contingent beneficiaries, with shares in whole-number percentages.³

All owners must sign the form, and any alteration on it must be initialed and dated by the owner.³

On EQUI-VEST and other plan annuities, the plan's own rules, including any spousal-consent requirement, can override the contract's beneficiary form.¹

For life insurance policys. Completed by the owner; all owners sign. Available to download.³

Return to

For annuitys. Completed by the owner, after logging in to the portal. Completed online.^{1, 2}

Return to

For annuitys. Completed by the owner, after logging in to the portal. Completed online.^{1, 2}

For annuitys. Sent by the institution on request.¹

Return to

Life insurance (VUL, IUL and term alike) is administered under the "Traditional, Term and Variable Life Series" forms, so any of it can be transferred to an irrevocable life insurance trust with the Ownership Change form.⁵

Equitable's annuity procedures cover naming a trust as beneficiary (the Certification of Trust form) and, where a trust beneficiary elects the Beneficiary Continuation Option, a Trustee Certification form. They do not cover moving ownership of the contract to a trust.⁴

For life insurance policys. Completed by the present owner(s) and the trustee. Available to download.⁵

Return to

The present owner(s) and the new owner, the trustee signing in that capacity, sign the Ownership Change form.⁵

The Ownership Change form warns that taxable disbursements to a trust owner are subject to 30% withholding under FATCA unless a properly completed W-9, or the correct W-8 for a foreign entity, is on file.⁵