How to name beneficiaries and fund a trust at Great Plains Life

Covers 2 insurance accounts — beneficiaries can be updated by phone

Brand change

Great Plains Life Assurance Company was merged into American Life & Security Corp. on December 1, 2016, per Midwest Holding Inc.'s SEC Form 10-K, and no longer operates as a separate insurer. American Life & Security Corp. ("American Life") in Lincoln, Nebraska services all in-force Great Plains Life policies: 402-489-8266, fax 402-489-8295, 2900 South 70th Street, Suite 400, Lincoln, NE 68506. Original Great Plains Life policy numbers are still valid. American Life's parent, Midwest Holding Inc., was acquired by an affiliate of Antarctica Capital on December 21, 2023. There is no separate American Life & Security Corp. record in this directory yet, so no successorId is set; all contacts on this record are American Life's. Effective December 2016.

The procedures below reflect Great Plains Life's accounts. Account servicing may transfer as the change takes effect.

Great Plains Life

Subsidiary of Antarctica Capital (via Midwest Holding Inc. / American Life & Security Corp.)

american-life.com
Great Plains Life logo

American Life & Security Corp. (successor to Great Plains Life)

Fax402-489-8295
Mailing Address

American Life & Security Corp., 2900 South 70th Street, Suite 400, Lincoln, NE 68506

American Life & Security Corp. (successor to Great Plains Life)

Fax402-489-8295
Mailing Address

American Life & Security Corp., 2900 South 70th Street, Suite 400, Lincoln, NE 68506

American Life & Security Corp. - Claims

Fax402-489-8295
Mailing Address

American Life & Security Corp., 2900 South 70th Street, Suite 400, Lincoln, NE 68506

Verified Jul 2026

Beneficiary designations are the foundation of estate planning for Great Plains Life policies. Unlike bank accounts, insurance products cannot be retitled into a trust. Instead, the beneficiary designation itself determines who receives the proceeds and how quickly they're paid. Naming a trust as beneficiary is an option when more control over distributions is needed.

The transfer rules at Great Plains Life vary across 2 policies. Below is a breakdown of beneficiary options, trust funding, and which products support each method.

Term Life InsuranceWhole Life Insurance
1
Call American Life & Security Corp. at 402-489-8266
2
Provide your policy number and verify your identity as the policy owner
3
Request that the beneficiary change form be sent to you; a phone representative cannot change the designation without a signed form
4
Complete, sign, and return the form by mail or fax (402-489-8295)

Required Documents

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

Special Requirements

  • Policy owner signature is required on every beneficiary change
  • If the policy has an irrevocable beneficiary designation, that beneficiary must consent to any change
  • The original Great Plains Life policy number remains valid for all servicing requests
  • American Life & Security Corp. publishes no policyholder forms on its public site; forms are obtained by phone at 402-489-8266
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Sources

Data sourced from Great Plains Life primary sources (13 pages reviewed). How we research.

Download these Great Plains Life instructions

Download instructions for the whole estate

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

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