Skip to main content
SimplyTrust
SimplyTrust
Create a TrustSettle an EstateForms & ToolsFreeResources
SimplyTrust Logo

Every family deserves a plan. We'll help.

Get startedApp StoreGoogle Play

Forms

  • Revocable Living Trust
  • Last Will and Testament
  • Pour-Over Will
  • Healthcare Power of Attorney
  • Financial Power of Attorney
  • Transfer on Death Deed
  • Vehicle Transfer on Death

Tools

  • Trust vs Will
  • Probate Calculator
  • Who Inherits
  • Estate Settlement
  • Death Tax Calculator
  • Life Insurance

Compare

  • Compare Services
  • vs LegalZoom
  • vs Trust & Will
  • vs Rocket Lawyer
  • vs Quicken WillMaker

Learn

  • Revocable Living Trusts
  • Last Will and Testaments
  • Articles
  • State Guides
  • Estate Law
  • Life Events

Directories

  • Law Firms
  • Financial Assets
  • Digital Assets
  • Government Agencies

Company

  • About
  • Careers
  • Contact
  • Create a Trust

SimplyTrust is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice, legal counsel, or attorney review. Information on this platform is for general informational purposes only. Use of SimplyTrust does not create an attorney-client relationship. You are solely responsible for all documents you create. For advice tailored to your circumstances, consult a licensed attorney in your state.

© 2026 SimplyTrust Software Inc. All rights reserved.

Privacy Policy·Terms of Service·Security··AI Access

All content, data, and calculations are proprietary. Automated scraping, systematic downloading, or data extraction is prohibited under our Terms of Service. Product visuals are simulated for illustrative purposes and may differ from actual experience. Logos provided by Logo.dev.

OverviewPreparing your estateWhen someone dies
OverviewPreparing your estateWhen someone dies
SimplyTrust forms
Letter of Instruction
Home→Financial Institutions→EquiTrust→Preparing your estate

How to name beneficiaries and fund a trust at EquiTrust

Covers 20 insurance accounts — beneficiaries can be updated by phone

EquiTrust

Subsidiary of Magic Johnson Enterprises (majority controlling interest)

equitrust.com→
EquiTrust logo

Policyholder Services

Phone1-866-598-3692
EmailCustomer.Service@EquiTrust.com
Fax1-515-226-5101
Mailing Address

EquiTrust Life Insurance Company, P.O. Box 14500, Des Moines, IA 50306-3500

Website Support
1-888-400-5759
WebsiteLearn more→

Policyholder Services

Phone1-866-598-3692
EmailCustomer.Service@EquiTrust.com
Fax1-515-226-5101
Mailing Address

EquiTrust Life Insurance Company, P.O. Box 14500, Des Moines, IA 50306-3500

Website Support
1-888-400-5759
WebsiteLearn more→

Claims Department

Phone1-866-598-3692
Toll-Free1-866-598-3692
EmailCustomer.Service@EquiTrust.com
Fax1-515-226-5101
Mailing Address

EquiTrust Life Insurance Company, P.O. Box 14500, Des Moines, IA 50306-3500 (overnight: 7100 Westown Parkway, Suite 200, West Des Moines, IA 50266-2521)

Trust and estate claims (trustee/executor must call rather than use the online Report A Death form)
1-866-598-3692
WebsiteNotify online→
Verified Jul 2026

Estate planning with EquiTrust policies centers on beneficiary designations—the single most important step for ensuring life insurance proceeds and annuity benefits reach the intended recipients without probate involvement. Unlike bank or brokerage accounts, insurance products are not retitled into trusts; instead, trusts are named as beneficiaries when estate tax planning or controlled distributions are needed.

EquiTrust offers 20 policies, each with its own transfer rules. The sections below cover how to set up beneficiaries, fund a trust, and which products support each approach.

MarketEdge Bonus Index AnnuityMarketPower Bonus Index AnnuityMarketTen Bonus Index AnnuityMarketFive Index AnnuityMarketSeven Index AnnuityMarketValue Index AnnuityMarketForce Bonus Index AnnuityMarketMax Index AnnuityMarketEarly Income Index AnnuityMarketFuture Bonus Income Index AnnuityChoiceFour AnnuitySmartBoost Index AnnuityBridge Fixed Index Annuity with Long-Term CareCertainty Select 3-Year MYGACertainty Select 5-Year MYGACertainty Select 6-Year MYGACertainty Select 8-Year MYGACertainty Select 10-Year MYGAConfidence Income Annuity (SPIA)WealthMax Bonus Life
1
Call EquiTrust at 866-598-3692 (Monday-Thursday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM CT; Friday, 8:00 AM - 2:00 PM CT)
2
Provide your contract or policy number and verify your identity
3
Request a Beneficiary Designation Form
4
A representative will mail the form to your address on file

Required Documents

  • Trust name, date established, and tax ID (EIN or SSN)

Special Requirements

  • Percentage allocations must total 100% for each beneficiary tier (primary and contingent)
  • Beneficiary designations override instructions in a will
  • Only the contract or policy owner can change beneficiary designations
  • An irrevocable beneficiary cannot be changed without the beneficiary written consent
  • Spousal consent may be required in community property states
  • For restricted payout instructions, use form ET-2533NQ (non-qualified) or ET-2533Q (qualified)
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust Editorial·Updated July 12, 2026

Sources

  • agents.equitrust.com
  • equitrust.com
  • my.equitrust.com

Data sourced from EquiTrust primary sources (29 pages reviewed). How we research.

Download these EquiTrust instructions

Download instructions for the whole estate→

A printable PDF with the steps, required documents, and contact details — verified against EquiTrust primary sources. Bring it to the branch or keep it beside the phone.

EquiTrust

Subsidiary of Magic Johnson Enterprises (majority controlling interest)

equitrust.com→
EquiTrust logo

Policyholder Services

Phone1-866-598-3692
EmailCustomer.Service@EquiTrust.com
Fax1-515-226-5101
Mailing Address

EquiTrust Life Insurance Company, P.O. Box 14500, Des Moines, IA 50306-3500

Website Support
1-888-400-5759
WebsiteLearn more→

Policyholder Services

Phone1-866-598-3692
EmailCustomer.Service@EquiTrust.com
Fax1-515-226-5101
Mailing Address

EquiTrust Life Insurance Company, P.O. Box 14500, Des Moines, IA 50306-3500

Website Support
1-888-400-5759
WebsiteLearn more→

Claims Department

Phone1-866-598-3692
Toll-Free1-866-598-3692
EmailCustomer.Service@EquiTrust.com
Fax1-515-226-5101
Mailing Address

EquiTrust Life Insurance Company, P.O. Box 14500, Des Moines, IA 50306-3500 (overnight: 7100 Westown Parkway, Suite 200, West Des Moines, IA 50266-2521)

Trust and estate claims (trustee/executor must call rather than use the online Report A Death form)
1-866-598-3692
WebsiteNotify online→
Verified Jul 2026

Estate planning articles

Learn how to protect your EquiTrust accounts and other assets with trusts, beneficiary designations, and estate planning documents.

When you're ready, we're here.

A revocable living trust skips probate, stays private, and takes 15 minutes.

Get startedApp StoreGoogle Play
SimplyTrust app shown on a phone

Estate planning articles

Learn how to protect your EquiTrust accounts and other assets with trusts, beneficiary designations, and estate planning documents.

Reimbursable Trustee Expenses: A Clear Overview

Reimbursable Trustee Expenses: A Clear Overview

Which trustee expenses does a trust reimburse?
Estate Settlement
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialJuly 13, 2026
Refundable Executor Expenses: What Estates Cover

Refundable Executor Expenses: What Estates Cover

Learn which out-of-pocket costs executors recover from estates.
Estate Settlement
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialJuly 13, 2026
Dave Ramsey on Trusts: What We Agree and Disagree On

Dave Ramsey on Trusts: What We Agree and Disagree On

Dave Ramsey on trusts: any estate plan at all is a good thing. We agree about that. There's one thing we don't agree with him about on trusts, though.
Trusts
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialJuly 6, 2026
Jean Chatzky on Estate Planning: It’s a Gift

Jean Chatzky on Estate Planning: It’s a Gift

On estate planning, Jean Chatzky's most important reframe may be the simplest one. She says estate planning isn’t about your passing, it’s about your love for family.
Estate Planning
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialJuly 6, 2026
Robert Kiyosaki on Trusts: A Structural Necessity

Robert Kiyosaki on Trusts: A Structural Necessity

According to Robert Kiyosaki, trusts are a necessity for everyone, not only the wealthy.
Trusts
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialJune 30, 2026
Ramit Sethi on Estate Planning: Start With a Living Trust

Ramit Sethi on Estate Planning: Start With a Living Trust

Ramit Sethi on estate planning: start with a living trust and have regular conversations with your heirs about how to manage finances when the trust becomes active.
Trusts
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialJune 30, 2026

Is this your situation?

Get a complete guide for your specific circumstances.

New Baby or Adoption

New Baby or Adoption

Your family is growing. Your protection should too. Guardian nominations, trusts for minors, beneficiary updates, and the documents new parents need in place.

Learn more
Marriage

Marriage

What married couples need in place: one joint trust or two, wills, beneficiary updates, and the spousal rights your state grants you automatically.

Learn more
New Home

New Home

How to put your house in a revocable trust: the deed you record, what it does to your mortgage and property taxes, and when a TOD deed is simpler.

Learn more
Retirement

Retirement

Retirement changes your financial picture. Healthcare directives, beneficiary reviews, long-term care planning, and protecting what you've built.

Learn more