How to name beneficiaries and fund a trust at Mariner
Covers 4 investment, 3 retirement, and 2 insurance accounts — beneficiaries must be updated in-branch
Mariner Client Services
Phone1-913-904-5700
Toll-Free1-800-384-1756
Fax1-913-904-5701
Mailing Address
Mariner, 5700 W. 112th Street, Suite 500, Overland Park, KS 66211
WebsiteLearn more→
Estate Planning and Trust Services (Mariner Trust Company, LLC)
Phone1-913-904-5700
Toll-Free1-800-384-1756
Mailing Address
Mariner, 5700 W. 112th Street, Suite 500, Overland Park, KS 66211
WebsiteLearn more→
Handled by the decedent's Mariner advisor, who coordinates with the custodian (Charles Schwab, Fidelity/National Financial Services, or Pershing). Mariner has no separate claims department, and the claim itself is filed with the custodian.
Phone1-913-904-5700
Toll-Free1-800-384-1756
Fax1-913-904-5701
Mailing Address
Mariner, 5700 W. 112th Street, Suite 500, Overland Park, KS 66211
WebsiteNotify online→
Verified Jul 2026
Estate planning for your Mariner investment accounts starts with understanding how each one transfers at death. Beneficiary designations and trust retitling both bypass probate, but the right approach depends on the account type, your tax situation, and how much control you want over distributions.
Mariner offers 9 investment accounts, each with its own transfer rules. The sections below cover how to set up beneficiaries, fund a trust, and which products support each approach.
Wealth Management AccountManaged Taxable AccountSeparately Managed Account (SMA)Trust Account (Mariner Trust Company)
1
Meet your advisor at your Mariner office (marinerwealthadvisors.com/locations) with government-issued photo ID
2
Review the beneficiary and TOD registrations currently on file AT THE CUSTODIAN for each account
3
Complete the custodian's designation form, providing for each beneficiary:
- Full legal name, relationship, and date of birth
- Social Security number
- Percentage allocation, and whether they are a primary or contingent beneficiary
- For a trust beneficiary: the exact trust name, the date it was established, the trustees, and the trust's tax identification number
4
Your advisor submits the executed form to the custodian and confirms when it has been recorded
Required Documents
- Trust name, date established, and tax ID (EIN or SSN)
Special Requirements
- Every designation is the CUSTODIAN's, not Mariner's. Mariner coordinates; the custodian records and controls it
- A TOD registration on a taxable account and a beneficiary designation on an IRA are different forms — updating one does not touch the other
- IRAs cannot be titled to a trust; a trust can be named as beneficiary on the IRA form
- Insurance and annuity beneficiaries are held by the issuing carrier, not by the custodian and not by Mariner
- Spousal consent may be required on retirement-plan beneficiary changes, depending on the plan and state law
- If your account came to Mariner through an acquired firm (AdvicePeriod, Kummer Financial Strategies, and others), confirm which custodian holds it today before requesting a form — the account may not have moved
Sources
Data sourced from Mariner primary sources (15 pages reviewed). How we research.
Download these Mariner instructions
Download instructions for the whole estateA printable PDF with the steps, required documents, and contact details — verified against Mariner primary sources. Bring it to the branch or keep it beside the phone.
Mariner Client Services
Phone1-913-904-5700
Toll-Free1-800-384-1756
Fax1-913-904-5701
Mailing Address
Mariner, 5700 W. 112th Street, Suite 500, Overland Park, KS 66211
WebsiteLearn more→
Estate Planning and Trust Services (Mariner Trust Company, LLC)
Phone1-913-904-5700
Toll-Free1-800-384-1756
Mailing Address
Mariner, 5700 W. 112th Street, Suite 500, Overland Park, KS 66211
WebsiteLearn more→
Handled by the decedent's Mariner advisor, who coordinates with the custodian (Charles Schwab, Fidelity/National Financial Services, or Pershing). Mariner has no separate claims department, and the claim itself is filed with the custodian.
Phone1-913-904-5700
Toll-Free1-800-384-1756
Fax1-913-904-5701
Mailing Address
Mariner, 5700 W. 112th Street, Suite 500, Overland Park, KS 66211
WebsiteNotify online→
Verified Jul 2026
Estate planning articles
Learn how to protect your Mariner accounts and other assets with trusts, beneficiary designations, and estate planning documents.
