Estate planning at Guideline
How to protect 7 Guideline accounts — manage beneficiaries online, fund a trust online, and file death claims
Phone1-888-344-5188
Mailing Address
Guideline, Inc., 1412 Chapin Avenue, Burlingame, CA 94010
IRA Support
Rollovers & Distributions
Plan Sponsors & Administrators
Onboarding Plans
Guideline Pro Partners
Sales & New Plan Inquiries
WebsiteLearn more→
Phone1-888-344-5188
Mailing Address
Guideline, Inc., 1412 Chapin Avenue, Burlingame, CA 94010
IRA Support
Rollovers & Distributions
Plan Sponsors & Administrators
Onboarding Plans
Guideline Pro Partners
Sales & New Plan Inquiries
WebsiteLearn more→
Death Claims
Phone1-888-344-5188
Toll-Free1-888-344-5188
Mailing Address
Guideline, Inc., Attn: Customer Success, 1412 Chapin Avenue, Burlingame, CA 94010
Verified Apr 2026
Guideline manages 7 retirement retirement accounts where beneficiary designations—not a will—control who inherits the balance. Because these are tax-advantaged accounts, the designation also determines the tax treatment for whoever receives them.
Beneficiary designations at Guideline can be managed online, typically taking 5-10 minutes. Trust funding is also available, allowing families to name a trust as the beneficiary of retirement accounts.
Guideline has documented procedures for both preparing accounts during your lifetime and handling claims when an account holder passes away.
Preparing your estate
Beneficiaries and trust funding
How to manage beneficiaries online, fund a trust online, and review 7 account types at Guideline.
View details →When someone dies
Death claim process
5-step process, 7 required documents, and contact information for survivors.
View details →Frequently asked questions
For 401(k) accounts, distribution follows this default order: 1) surviving spouse, 2) children (split equally), 3) parents (split equally), 4) estate. For IRA accounts, the IRA agreement determines the default beneficiary. It is strongly recommended to designate beneficiaries to ensure assets are distributed according to your wishes.
The Starter 401(k), enabled by the SECURE 2.0 Act, is a simplified 401(k) plan with a $6,000 contribution limit in 2026 ($7,000 with catch-up for age 50+) and no employer match requirement. It is designed to make offering a retirement plan easier for small businesses that might not otherwise have one. Beneficiary designation works the same as a standard 401(k).
Yes. By law, your spouse automatically becomes the sole primary beneficiary of your 401(k) upon marriage, regardless of any prior designations. To name someone other than your spouse as primary beneficiary, your spouse must provide notarized written consent. Upon divorce, a former spouse's beneficiary rights are NOT automatically revoked; you must update your designation manually.
Under the SECURE Act, spouse beneficiaries have three options: 1) Roll the IRA into their own name and treat it as their own, delaying RMDs until age 73; 2) Keep it as a beneficiary account, which avoids the 10% early withdrawal penalty for those under 59 1/2; or 3) Roll funds into their own employer retirement plan (401(k), 403(b), or 457(b)). Consult a qualified tax professional as individual circumstances vary.
For 2026, the 401(k) employee deferral limit is $24,500 ($32,500 with catch-up for ages 50-59 and 64+; $35,750 with super catch-up for ages 60-63). The overall 401(k) contribution limit including employer contributions is $72,000 ($77,500 or $81,250 with catch-up). Starter 401(k) plans have a $6,000 deferral limit ($7,000 with catch-up for age 50+). Traditional and Roth IRA limits are $7,500 ($8,600 with catch-up for age 50+). SEP IRA limits are $72,000 or 25% of compensation, whichever is less.
Guideline offers phone, email, and live chat support Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 7 PM ET (6 AM to 4 PM PT). Participant Support: 1-888-344-5188 or support@guideline.com. IRA Support: 1-888-810-3801. Rollovers & Distributions: 1-888-498-2766. Plan Sponsors & Administrators: 1-888-588-0719. Onboarding Plans: 1-888-588-0446. Sales & New Plan Inquiries: 1-888-228-3491 ext. 1. The help center is at help.guideline.com.
Sources
Data sourced from Guideline primary sources (16 pages reviewed). How we research.
Phone1-888-344-5188
Mailing Address
Guideline, Inc., 1412 Chapin Avenue, Burlingame, CA 94010
IRA Support
Rollovers & Distributions
Plan Sponsors & Administrators
Onboarding Plans
Guideline Pro Partners
Sales & New Plan Inquiries
WebsiteLearn more→
Phone1-888-344-5188
Mailing Address
Guideline, Inc., 1412 Chapin Avenue, Burlingame, CA 94010
IRA Support
Rollovers & Distributions
Plan Sponsors & Administrators
Onboarding Plans
Guideline Pro Partners
Sales & New Plan Inquiries
WebsiteLearn more→
Death Claims
Phone1-888-344-5188
Toll-Free1-888-344-5188
Mailing Address
Guideline, Inc., Attn: Customer Success, 1412 Chapin Avenue, Burlingame, CA 94010
Verified Apr 2026
Estate planning articles
Learn how to protect your Guideline accounts and other assets with trusts, beneficiary designations, and estate planning documents.
