How to name beneficiaries and fund a trust at Fisher Investments

Covers 3 investment, and 4 retirement accounts — beneficiaries can be managed online

Fisher Investments

Subsidiary of Fisher Investments, Inc.

fisherinvestments.com
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Mailing Address

Fisher Investments, 6500 International Parkway, Suite 2050, Plano, TX 75093

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Client Service Team (Estate Planning)

Mailing Address

Fisher Investments, 6500 International Parkway, Suite 2050, Plano, TX 75093

New Client Inquiries

Client Service Team

Mailing Address

Fisher Investments, 6500 International Parkway, Suite 2050, Plano, TX 75093

Verified Jul 2026

Preparing your Fisher Investments 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.

The transfer rules at Fisher Investments vary across 7 investment accounts. Below is a breakdown of beneficiary options, trust funding, and which products support each method.

Individual Managed AccountJoint Managed AccountTrust Managed Account
1
Log in to your third-party custodian account (e.g., Fidelity at fidelity.com or Schwab at schwab.com)
2
Navigate to the beneficiary designation or Transfer on Death (TOD) section of your account settings
3
Add or update primary and contingent beneficiaries with name, SSN, date of birth, relationship, and percentage allocations totaling 100%
4
For trust as beneficiary: enter the trust name, date established, trustee name(s), and trust TIN
5
Save your changes and confirm the update on your next account statement
6
Contact your Fisher Investment Counselor at 1-800-550-1071 if you need assistance navigating the custodian site

Required Documents

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

Special Requirements

  • Beneficiary designations are maintained by the third-party custodian, not Fisher Investments directly
  • Each custodian has its own forms and processes for beneficiary changes
  • Fisher Investment Counselors can coordinate the process on your behalf
  • Named beneficiaries on investment accounts override your will
  • A trust can be named as IRA beneficiary, but this may affect distribution options under the SECURE Act
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Sources

Data sourced from Fisher Investments primary sources (14 pages reviewed). How we research.

Download these Fisher Investments instructions

Download instructions for the whole estate

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

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