What to do when a Guideline account holder dies
Report the death to Guideline's Retirement Participant Support at 1-888-344-5188
Guideline has changed ownershipAcquired, effective November 2025
Gusto completed its acquisition of Guideline on November 6, 2025. The product is now branded "Gusto 401(k) powered by Guideline" and the operating entity on every page footer is Gusto Retirement Services, LLC, held under Gusto Retirement Holdings, LLC (wholly owned by Gusto, Inc.). The Guideline brand, guideline.com, the my.guideline.com participant dashboard, and the help center at help.guideline.com are all still live; only the marketing product pages now redirect to gusto.com. Support email addresses are @retirement.gusto.com and the claims mailing address is Gusto, Inc., Attn: Retirement Care, Denver, CO.
What happens to Guideline retirement accounts after the account holder dies depends on how each account was titled. Beneficiary-designated and trust-owned accounts transfer directly. Accounts in the deceased's name alone go through the estate, and the executor or administrator works with Guideline's Retirement Participant Support (1-888-344-5188) to claim the funds.
Death claim process
To file a claim after an account holder's death, here is what Guideline requires:
Filing a claim
- To disclaim the assets instead of taking them, send a written disclaimer to the plan sponsor for a 401(k), or to the custodian for an IRA.
Required Documents
- Certified copy of the death certificateOnly one is needed when several beneficiaries submit their documents together.
- Color copy of a current, unexpired government-issued photo ID, for each beneficiaryA passport, driver's license or state ID.
- Marriage certificate, if you are the spouse and are not listed on the death certificate
- Birth certificate, if you are the child
- Birth certificate, certificate of guardianship, or adoption decree, if the beneficiary is a minorFunds are disbursed at the direction of the minor's legal guardian.
- First page of the fully executed trust, if a trust is the beneficiary
- The charity's W-9, if a charity is the beneficiary
- Notarized Small Estate Affidavit, or an IRS letter for the probated estate, if the estate is the beneficiaryThe affidavit is completed with Guideline; the IRS letter is obtained through probate. Guideline asks an executor to contact it to determine what other documents are needed.
Forms Guideline issues2
What happens to each kind of account2
- Employer retirement plan
With no beneficiary designated, a 401(k) is distributed under the plan document: to the surviving spouse; if none, the children in equal shares; if none, the parents in equal shares; if none, the estate.1
If the participant was also the plan trustee, the company must submit an executed Trustee Change Packet to appoint a successor. Guideline accepts only one individual trustee, not a job title, a corporate or directed trustee, or a trustee based outside the US.2
- IRA
With no beneficiary designated, an IRA goes to the surviving spouse, or to the estate if there is no surviving spouse.1
When a participant leaves the employer with a small balance and gives no direction within 30 days, the plan can roll the balance into a Gusto IRA in the participant's own name. Guideline supports force-out thresholds up to $5,000.1
What Guideline's agreement and guidance say4
- Who can get account information
Guideline shares no account details, not even the balance, until it has received the documents and confirmed you as the beneficiary. If it determines you are not the beneficiary, it shares no information about the account.1
- How proceeds are paid
A surviving spouse who inherits an IRA can roll it into their own name and treat it as their own, leave it as a beneficiary account, or roll it into their own employer plan, such as a 401(k), 403(b) or 457(b), whose plan document then governs.1
- Fees
A force-out IRA has limited features until it is claimed, and accrues a monthly account fee whether or not anyone acts.1
- Dormant and unclaimed accounts
Guideline warns that if a force-out IRA is never claimed, "your state's unclaimed property laws may eventually require Gusto Retirement to turn your funds over to the state."1
Not in Guideline's published guidance1
- Payout-period guidance
Guideline reviews a complete set of documents within 1-2 weeks of receiving it, then confirms the beneficiary and sends the distribution form.
Guideline's Retirement Participant Support can be reached by phone at 1-888-344-5188 and email at support@retirement.gusto.com for questions throughout the claims process.
Sources
Data sourced from Guideline primary sources (15 pages reviewed). How we research.
Guideline death claims support
Retirement Participant Support (Gusto Retirement Care)
Phone
Toll-free
Personal IRA (deceased IRA saver)
Rollovers & distributions
Hours
Mailing address
Website
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