How to name beneficiaries and fund a trust at Great American Life
Beneficiaries are managed by phone or by mail. Trust paperwork is taken by phone or by mail
Great American Life is now MassMutualRebranded, effective October 2022
Great American Life Insurance Company was acquired by Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company in May 2021 and changed its name to MassMutual Ascend Life Insurance Company effective on or about October 3, 2022. It is the same legal entity under a new name and remains a wholly owned MassMutual subsidiary in Cincinnati, Ohio. Existing Great American Life contract numbers, policy terms, and benefits are unchanged. Use MassMutual Ascend for all servicing: annuity contracts 800-854-3649, life insurance policies 888-863-5891, death claims 800-854-3649 (fax 513-412-5122, ClaimDocs@mmascend.com), P.O. Box 5420, Cincinnati, OH 45201-5420. Note the separate MassMutual (Springfield, MA) record covers policies written by the parent company, not by Great American Life / MassMutual Ascend.
For Great American Life policyholders, estate planning comes down to one critical step: making sure the right beneficiaries are named on every policy. Insurance proceeds bypass probate entirely and go directly to whoever is listed—regardless of what a will says. When estate tax planning or controlled distributions are a factor, a trust can be named as beneficiary instead.
With 18 product types, Great American Life offers a range of transfer options. Some policies support beneficiary designations, others can be retitled into a trust, and some require probate if no beneficiary is designated. The sections below break down each step.
Beneficiary form at Great American Life
Beneficiary Designation and Restricted Death Benefit Election (Form X1053406NW), fixed and fixed indexed annuities (for annuitys), Beneficiary Designation and Restricted Death Benefit Election (Form X1053406NW), registered index-linked annuities (for annuitys), Beneficiary Designation and Restricted Death Benefit Election (Form X1053406NW), variable annuities (for annuitys), Address Change/Beneficiary Change/Information Request (Form ASM2044) (for annuitys), Beneficiary Change (Annuitized Contracts Only) (Form ASM2134) (for annuitys), Policy Change Request Form Life Policy (for life insurance policys), Beneficiary change form, Continental General life before 1/1/2025, UTA, Great American Life and Loyal American policies (for life insurance policys) and Beneficiary change form, Continental General and United Teacher Associates annuities (for annuitys).
Open the form →- Deferred annuity: Beneficiary Designation and Restricted Death Benefit Election, Form X1053406NW, the only form that also carries the Restricted Death Benefit Election
- Deferred annuity, simple change with no restriction: Address Change/Beneficiary Change/Information Request, Form ASM2044, which combines the address and beneficiary change on one page
- Annuity already in payout (annuitized) status: Form ASM2134, listed as Beneficiary Change (Annuitized Contracts Only) but captioned "CONTINGENT PAYEE DESIGNATION" on its face
- Once payments begin your beneficiary designation no longer applies; on Form ASM2134 you name who receives payments that remain after your death
- Life insurance policy: Policy Change Request Form Life Policy
- Full legal name, SSN or FEIN, relationship, birth date, and address for each primary and contingent beneficiary; percentage shares of primary beneficiaries must total 100%
- For a trust beneficiary: give the trust name, the trustee name(s), and the trust agreement date in place of a birth date
- Per Stirpes election, if you want a deceased beneficiary's share to pass to that beneficiary's descendants
- Restricted Death Benefit Election (optional): Full Restriction (whole share paid under a Restricted Payout Election), Partial Restriction (up to a stated percentage as a lump sum), or No Restriction
- Restricted payout choices are life payout, life payout with payments for at least a fixed period of 5-20 years, or a fixed period of 5-20 years
- Form X1053406NW states it may not be used to restrict a spouse beneficiary; a surviving spouse instead elects successor-owner continuation or a rollover after your death
- For that second case MassMutual Ascend has a separate form, Notarized Signature for Electronic Applications (Form X6046114NW)
- A signature guarantee may be provided by a bank, savings and loan association, trust company, credit union, or broker-dealer in a medallion program such as STAMP
- If a power of attorney signs, send a copy of the power of attorney document and a completed Affidavit Related to Power of Attorney (Form AAG2816), unless a valid affidavit is on file
- Where the same power of attorney names the attorney-in-fact as a beneficiary, that designation is subject to additional review
- On a trust-owned contract the acting trustee(s) must sign
- If the trustees changed, submit a new Trust Certification (Form X6017907NW), or trust pages naming the successor trustee(s) with proof of the prior trustee's resignation, removal, incapacity or death
- Fixed and fixed indexed annuities: P.O. Box 5420, Cincinnati, OH 45201 / fax 800-482-8126
- Registered index-linked and variable annuities: P.O. Box 5423, Cincinnati, OH 45201 / fax 800-807-9777 (RILA) or 513-768-5115 (variable)
- Life insurance: P.O. Box 5416, Cincinnati, OH 45201 / fax 800-859-0021
- Overnight mail for any product line: 191 Rosa Parks Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202
Required Documents
- Contract or policy number
- Each beneficiary's full legal name, SSN or FEIN, relationship, date of birth and address (for each primary and contingent beneficiary)
- Each beneficiary's phone number. Forms ASM2044 and X6002701NW warn: "A failure to do so may result in the death benefit being escheated to the state."
- Trust name, trustee name(s) and trust agreement date (when naming a trust, in place of a birth date)
- Copy of the power of attorney document (if a power of attorney signs)
- Affidavit Related to Power of Attorney (Form AAG2816) (if a power of attorney signs, unless a valid affidavit is already on file). On the life side, Forms N6124615NW and N6124715NW require the affidavit to have been signed within the last 90 days
- Notarized Signature for Electronic Applications (Form X6046114NW) (if the contract was bought electronically with an e-signature and no notarized or guaranteed signature has been submitted)
- New Trust Certification (Form X6017907NW) or trust pages naming the successor trustee(s) (on a trust-owned contract whose trustees have changed). Trust pages go with documentation of the prior trustee's resignation, removal, incapacity or death
- Trust Certification - Irrevocable Trust Addendum (Form X6057918NW) (for a life policy already owned by an irrevocable trust whose trustees have changed)
- Contract/Certificate Ownership/Annuitant Change Form (Form X6002701NW), for non-qualified annuities only
- Trust Certification and Agreement (Form X6017907NW), required for every trust
- Life insurance instead uses the life-side Ownership Change Form, Form N6124715NW, from the life insurance forms page
- Name the trust as the sole new owner; MassMutual Ascend asks that the trust date always be part of the owner name and that any sub-trust or share be identified
- Its own examples are "John & Jane Doe Tr 05/18/08 - Surv Tr" and "Smith Family Tr 12-01-97 FBO Samantha Smith"
- The trustee signs as new owner and writes "Trustee" or "TTEE" after the signature
- Complete Section 4 (New Beneficiary Designation) naming the same trust as beneficiary
- If no new beneficiary designation is made with an ownership change, the beneficiary defaults to the estate of the new owner
- Provide the trust EIN unless the trust is revocable or a grantor-type trust
- Attach a photocopy of the trustee's driver's license, passport, or state/military photo ID for identity verification
- Date the trust was signed, the state whose law governs it, each grantor's name and SSN (and whether living or deceased), and each current trustee's name and address
- Section 5: the co-trustee authority election (single trustee, any trustee may act alone, or all trustees must sign)
- Generally all trustees must sign the certification
- Do not send the trust document itself. If MassMutual Ascend receives it, the file goes to its Legal Department for review and processing is delayed
- Transferring ownership out of a revocable trust: no form beyond the basic Trust Certification, but the transfer must run from the trust to a grantor of the trust
- Transferring ownership out of an irrevocable trust to its beneficiaries: Trust Certification - Change of Ownership to Trust Beneficiaries (Form X6057118NW)
- A new inherited IRA or inherited non-qualified contract issued to a trust: Trust Certification - Inherited Contract Addendum (Form X6057518NW)
- New business funded by a revocable trust: Client Financial Disclosure (Form U2671023NW), completed on the grantor's income, assets, and health even when the trustee is not the grantor
- New business funded by an irrevocable trust: Client Financial Disclosure for Irrevocable Trusts (Form U2671623NW), completed on the trust's income, assets, and obligations
- Purchase money coming from somewhere other than the trust itself: Third Party Check form (Form N2654911NW), completed by the owner of the funds
- A life insurance policy assigned to an irrevocable trust (an ILIT): Form N6124715NW plus Forms X6017907NW and X6057918NW (the Irrevocable Trust Addendum)
- The trust must also be named as beneficiary in Section 5 of N6124715NW; the addendum is a life-side requirement only
- Fixed and fixed indexed annuities: P.O. Box 5420, Cincinnati, OH 45201 / fax 800-482-8126
- Registered index-linked annuities: P.O. Box 5423, Cincinnati, OH 45201 / fax 800-807-9777
- Life insurance: P.O. Box 5416, Cincinnati, OH 45201 / fax 800-859-0021
- Overnight mail: 191 Rosa Parks Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202
Required Documents
- Contract/Certificate Ownership/Annuitant Change Form (Form X6002701NW) (for a non-qualified annuity only)
- Trust Certification and Agreement (Form X6017907NW), signed by the trustee(s). This is the document MassMutual Ascend wants; its guide sets the revision floor at Rev. 1/16/2025 or later
- Trust EIN (unless the trust is revocable or a grantor-type trust)
- Photocopy of the trustee's driver's license, passport, or state/military photo ID
- Section 4 of Form X6002701NW naming the same trust as beneficiary
- Trust Certification - Change of Ownership to Trust Beneficiaries (Form X6057118NW) (when moving ownership out of an irrevocable trust to its beneficiaries)
- Trust Certification - Inherited Contract Addendum (Form X6057518NW) (when an inherited IRA or inherited non-qualified contract is issued to a trust). Captioned "SEE-THROUGH TRUST CERTIFICATION"
- Client Financial Disclosure (Form U2671023NW) (for new business funded by a revocable trust). Completed on the grantor's income, assets and health, even when the trustee is not the grantor
- Client Financial Disclosure for Irrevocable Trusts (Form U2671623NW) (for new business funded by an irrevocable trust). Completed on the trust's income, assets and obligations
- Third Party Check form (Form N2654911NW) (when the purchase payment is not coming from the trust itself). Completed by the owner of the funds
- Ownership Change Form (Form N6124715NW) (for a life insurance policy)
- Trust Certification - Irrevocable Trust Addendum (Form X6057918NW) (for a life policy whose new owner is an irrevocable trust such as an ILIT, or whose trustee changes). Required on the life insurance side only, alongside Form X6017907NW
- Affidavit Related to Power of Attorney (Form AAG2816) (if a power of attorney signs on behalf of an individual owner)
What Great American Life says about beneficiaries and trusts
Each section is Great American Life's own statement, with the document it comes from numbered under Sources.
Which accounts take a beneficiary2
- Annuity
A contract already in payout (annuitized) status uses Form ASM2134 instead of Form X1053406NW. On it the owner names who receives payments that remain after the owner's death.1
Form X1053406NW warns that once a contract is annuitized, the beneficiary designations no longer apply.2
- Life insurance policy
A life insurance policy's beneficiary is changed on the Policy Change Request Form Life Policy.3
Who can be named2
- A trust
A trust may be named as a primary or contingent beneficiary. MassMutual Ascend is not obligated to inquire into the terms of the trust and is discharged from liability once it pays the death benefit to the trustee.2
If a trust owns the contract, MassMutual Ascend may reject the designation of any beneficiary other than the trust itself.2
- A spouse, annuitys
A Restricted Death Benefit Election cannot be used on a spouse beneficiary (Form X1053406NW, Terms and Conditions item 2). The spouse's options after the owner's death are successor-owner continuation or a rollover into a contract in the spouse's own name.2
How many beneficiaries, and how shares are split
- All accounts
Primary and contingent beneficiaries each take a percentage share. The shares must total 100% for the primary beneficiaries and 100% for the contingent beneficiaries.2
What a designation takes to be effective
- All accounts
Form ASM2044 Section 6 requires a notarized or guaranteed signature when the home office asks, or when the contract was bought electronically with an e-signature and none has been filed since. A bank, savings and loan, trust company, credit union or medallion-program broker-dealer can guarantee it.4
If a power of attorney signs, MassMutual Ascend requires a copy of the power of attorney and the Affidavit Related to Power of Attorney (Form AAG2816), or a valid affidavit on file. A designation naming the attorney-in-fact is subject to additional review.4
Original signatures are required on claim and change forms. The annuity claim forms print "Original signature required. Do not submit digital signatures." at every signature block.5
- Life insurance policy
On the life side, Forms N6124615NW and N6124715NW require the Affidavit Related to Power of Attorney to have been signed within the last 90 days.6, 7
Both life forms reserve the right to require the current owner's signature to be notarized, and suggest notarizing before submitting to avoid processing delays.6, 7
Beneficiary forms Great American Life issues8
- Beneficiary Designation and Restricted Death Benefit Election (Form X1053406NW), fixed and fixed indexed annuities
For annuitys. Completed by the owner. Available to download.2
Return to
Fax: 1-800-482-8126
Mailing address: P.O. Box 5420, Cincinnati, OH 45201
- Beneficiary Designation and Restricted Death Benefit Election (Form X1053406NW), registered index-linked annuities
For annuitys. Completed by the owner. Available to download.2
Return to
Fax: 1-800-807-9777
Mailing address: P.O. Box 5423, Cincinnati, OH 45201
- Beneficiary Designation and Restricted Death Benefit Election (Form X1053406NW), variable annuities
For annuitys. Completed by the owner. Available to download.2
Return to
Fax: 1-513-768-5115
Mailing address: P.O. Box 5423, Cincinnati, OH 45201
- Address Change/Beneficiary Change/Information Request (Form ASM2044)
For annuitys. Available to download.4
- Beneficiary Change (Annuitized Contracts Only) (Form ASM2134)
For annuitys. Sent by the institution on request.1
- Policy Change Request Form Life Policy
For life insurance policys. Available to download.3
Return to
Fax: 1-800-859-0021
Mailing address: P.O. Box 5416, Cincinnati, OH 45201
- Beneficiary change form, Continental General life before 1/1/2025, UTA, Great American Life and Loyal American policies
For life insurance policys. Sent by the institution on request.8
Return to
Phone: 1-888-863-5891
Mailing address: P.O. Box 5416, Cincinnati, OH 45201
- Beneficiary change form, Continental General and United Teacher Associates annuities
For annuitys. Sent by the institution on request.8
Return to
Phone: 1-800-854-3649
Mailing address: P.O. Box 5420, Cincinnati, OH 45201
What Great American Life's agreement says about beneficiaries5
- A beneficiary who dies first
With the Per Stirpes election, a deceased beneficiary's share passes to that beneficiary's descendants.2
- No beneficiary survives
If no beneficiary or contingent beneficiary survives the owner, or their descendants where the Per Stirpes option was elected, Form X1053406NW states the death benefit is paid to the owner's estate.2
- Changing or revoking a designation
The form revokes all prior beneficiary designations and any prior elections of optional methods of settlement.2
- Claims against the account
Under a Restricted Payout Election, Form X1053406NW item 7 states that, to the extent allowed by law, the beneficiary may not transfer, sell, assign, pledge or otherwise alienate the payments, and the payments are not subject to creditors' claims or legal process.2
- Online access
MassMutual Ascend states that it "does not have an online payment portal" and asks policyholders to stay alert to unprompted requests for funds or personal information from someone claiming to be MassMutual Ascend.3
Policy transaction requests can be tracked by real-time text message; the opt-in is on the contact page.11
Which accounts a trust can hold3
- Annuity
A trust may be named sole owner of a non-qualified deferred annuity. Form X6002701NW is for non-qualified annuities only.10
MassMutual Ascend requires the trust to be named the sole owner and, separately, the sole primary beneficiary, so the contract's beneficiary rules cannot conflict with the terms of the trust. Immediate annuities already in payout status cannot be transferred.9
Ownership moves out of a revocable trust on the basic Trust Certification only to a grantor of the trust. MassMutual Ascend will not move it from a revocable trust to a third party on the certification alone.12
- IRA
MassMutual Ascend will not issue an IRA or other qualified contract to a trust unless it is an inherited IRA or the trust is part of an employer retirement plan.9
- Life insurance policy
A life insurance policy can be assigned to an irrevocable life insurance trust (ILIT) on Form N6124715NW, with the Trust Certification (X6017907NW) and the Irrevocable Trust Addendum (X6057918NW). The trust must also be named beneficiary in Section 5.7
Trust account forms Great American Life issues4
- Contract/Certificate Ownership/Annuitant Change Form (Form X6002701NW)
For annuitys. Available to download.10
- Trust Certification and Agreement (Form X6017907NW)
Completed by the trustee(s). Available to download.13
- Ownership Change Form (Form N6124715NW)
For life insurance policys. Available to download.7
Return to
Fax: 1-800-859-0021
Mailing address: P.O. Box 5416, Cincinnati, OH 45201
- Absolute assignment / change of ownership form, Continental General life policies issued before 1/1/2025
For life insurance policys. Sent by the institution on request.8
Return to
Phone: 1-888-863-5891
Mailing address: P.O. Box 5416, Cincinnati, OH 45201
What Great American Life says about trust accounts5
- Who signs for the trust
On a trust-owned contract or policy, the acting trustee(s) sign a change form.4
Section 5 of the Trust Certification sets whether a single trustee acts, any trustee may act alone, or all trustees must sign. Generally all trustees must sign the certification.13
- Successor trustees
If the trustees have changed, a new Trust Certification (Form X6017907NW) is filed, or trust pages naming the successor trustee(s) with documentation of the prior trustee's resignation, removal, incapacity or death.4
For a life policy already owned by an irrevocable trust, a new Trust Certification - Irrevocable Trust Addendum (Form X6057918NW) is required as well.7
- Review of the trust document
MassMutual Ascend instructs "Do not send us the trust document." If it receives the trust document, it cannot rely on a certification inconsistent with the trust, the file goes to its Legal Department for review, and processing is delayed.13
- The trust's tax identification number
Form X6002701NW asks for the trust EIN unless the trust is revocable or a grantor-type trust.10
- The institution's right to refuse a designation or an account title
MassMutual Ascend will not accept new business where the insurance professional, or a close family member, is a trustee or beneficiary of the trust, except in limited family situations, or where the insurance professional is also acting as the client's lawyer.9
Not in Great American Life's published guidance1
- Irrevocable Trust Addendum (X6057918NW) at a public URL
Sources13
- 1.Beneficiary Change (Annuitized Contracts Only) (Form ASM2134)
- 2.Beneficiary Designation and Restricted Death Benefit Election (Form X1053406NW)
- 3.Life insurance forms
- 4.Address Change/Beneficiary Change/Information Request (Form ASM2044)
- 5.Annuity claim forms
- 6.Form N6124615NW
- 7.Ownership Change Form (Form N6124715NW)
- 8.Continental General Insurance Company, Contact Us (old text of the Continental General guide)
- 9.Contract holder forms
- 10.Contract/Certificate Ownership/Annuitant Change Form (Form X6002701NW)
- 11.Contact us
- 12.Trust guide (S6071822NW)
- 13.Trust Certification and Agreement (Form X6017907NW)
Sources
Data sourced from Great American Life primary sources (16 pages reviewed). How we research.
Download these Great American Life instructions
Download instructions for the whole estateA printable PDF with the steps, required documents, and contact details — verified against Great American Life primary sources. Bring it to the branch or keep it beside the phone.
Great American Life estate support
Customer Service (MassMutual Ascend, formerly Great American Life)
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Estate requests go through general customer service.
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