Estate planning at E*TRADE

E*TRADE typically completes asset transfers within 7 business days of receiving all necessary documentation in good order. A dedicated Beneficiary Services professional will be assigned to your case and will contact you to guide you through the process.

Yes, individual and joint brokerage and margin accounts can be retitled to a revocable or irrevocable trust by opening a new Trust Account using the Trust Account Application at https://content.etrade.com/etrade/mssb/pdf/ETB_trustaccountapplication.pdf, then transferring assets in-kind from the individual account. IRAs and Coverdell ESAs cannot be retitled to a trust because they must be owned by an individual under federal tax law, but a trust can be named as the beneficiary on an IRA.

Use the Designation of Beneficiary (IRA) form at https://content.etrade.com/etrade/mssb/pdf/Designation_of_Beneficiary.pdf. List the trust as primary or contingent beneficiary by name, the date the trust was established, and the trust's EIN (or your SSN if it is a revocable grantor trust). Naming a trust as IRA beneficiary has tax and required minimum distribution implications under the SECURE Act, so consult a tax or estate planning attorney before doing so.

Yes. Premium Savings, Max-Rate Checking, the standard Checking account, and CDs are deposit products of Morgan Stanley Private Bank, National Association, Member FDIC. Standard FDIC insurance covers up to $250,000 per depositor, per insured bank, for each account ownership category. Securities held in E*TRADE brokerage accounts are not FDIC insured but are covered by SIPC (up to $500,000 per customer, including $250,000 for cash) at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC.