How to name beneficiaries and fund a trust at Fidelity
Covers 8 investment, 1 deposit, 16 retirement, and 4 crypto accounts — beneficiaries can be managed online
Customer Service
Fidelity Investments, P.O. Box 770001, Cincinnati, OH 45277-0002
Customer Service
Fidelity Investments, P.O. Box 770001, Cincinnati, OH 45277-0002
Death Claims / Beneficiary Distribution
Fidelity Investments, P.O. Box 770001, Cincinnati, OH 45277-0039
Preparing your Fidelity investment accounts for estate transfer involves two primary strategies: designating beneficiaries on individual accounts and, where supported, retitling accounts into a revocable living trust. Both approaches bypass probate, but they work differently depending on the account type.
With 29 product types, Fidelity offers a range of transfer options. Some investment accounts support Transfer on Death (TOD) designations, others can be retitled into a trust, and some require probate if no beneficiary is designated. The sections below break down each step.
- Add primary beneficiaries
- Optionally add contingent (secondary) beneficiaries
- Full legal name and date of birth
- Social Security number (recommended for easier future transfers)
- For trusts as beneficiary: trust name, date established, and tax ID number (do not send the trust agreement)
Required Documents
- Trust name, date established, and tax ID (EIN or SSN)
Special Requirements
- Named beneficiaries override your will
- Not all account types are eligible for electronic beneficiary updates online
- Spousal consent may be required for employer-sponsored retirement accounts (401(k), 403(b))
- Retirement accounts (IRA/HSA) use a separate Beneficiaries - IRA/HSA form, not the nonretirement TOD form
Sources
Data sourced from Fidelity primary sources (17 pages reviewed). How we research.
Download these Fidelity instructions
Download instructions for the whole estateA printable PDF with the steps, required documents, and contact details — verified against Fidelity primary sources. Bring it to the branch or keep it beside the phone.
Customer Service
Fidelity Investments, P.O. Box 770001, Cincinnati, OH 45277-0002
Customer Service
Fidelity Investments, P.O. Box 770001, Cincinnati, OH 45277-0002
Death Claims / Beneficiary Distribution
Fidelity Investments, P.O. Box 770001, Cincinnati, OH 45277-0039
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