How to name beneficiaries and fund a trust at MassMutual
Covers 17 insurance accounts — beneficiaries can be managed online
Phone1-800-272-2216
Toll-Free1-800-272-2216
Mailing Address
MassMutual, 1295 State Street, Springfield, MA 01111-0001
Online Account Support
MassMutual Ascend Claims
Claims Department
Phone1-800-272-2216
Mailing Address
MassMutual, Attention: Life Hub, Springfield, MA 01111-0001
Online Account Support
MassMutual Ascend Claims
WebsiteLearn more→
Claims Department
Phone1-800-272-2216
Fax(513) 412-5122
Mailing Address
MassMutual, Attention: Life Hub, Springfield, MA 01111-0001
WebsiteNotify online→
Verified Jun 2026
For MassMutual 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 17 product types, MassMutual 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.
Whole Life 100 (Legacy Series)Whole Life 65 (Legacy Series)Whole Life 20 Pay (Legacy Series)Whole Life 10 Pay (Legacy Series)Whole Life 12 Pay (Legacy Series)Vantage Term Life InsuranceUniversal Life InsuranceVariable Universal Life Insurance (VUL)Survivorship Whole Life Insurance (Legacy Series)Survivorship Universal Life Guard (SUL Guard)Survivorship Variable Universal Life Insurance (SVUL)Stable Voyage Fixed AnnuityPremier Voyage Fixed AnnuityRetireEase Select Immediate AnnuityRetireEase Choice Deferred Income AnnuityEnvision Variable AnnuityRadius Choice Disability Income Insurance
1
Log in to your MassMutual account at massmutual.com
2
Navigate to the beneficiary section for your policy:
- From your dashboard, click the blue tile for the policy you want to update
- Select "People on Policy" from the policy details page
- Expand the dropdown to view current beneficiary designations
- Select the option to update or add beneficiaries
3
Enter beneficiary information:
- Add primary beneficiaries with full legal names, dates of birth, relationships, and percentage allocations totaling 100%
- Optionally add contingent (secondary) beneficiaries with their own allocations totaling 100%
- For trusts: select trust as beneficiary type and provide trust name, date established, and EIN
4
Review and confirm your beneficiary designations
Required Documents
- Trust name, date established, and tax ID (EIN or SSN)
Special Requirements
- Trusts can be named as beneficiaries on life insurance policies and annuities
- Primary, secondary (contingent), and tertiary beneficiary levels can be designated
- Percentage allocations within each beneficiary class must total 100%
- Per stirpes designations are available for distributing shares to descendants
- Beneficiary designations override instructions in a will
- Annuity beneficiary changes use a separate Annuity Beneficiary Change Request form
- Signed forms must be received within 6 months of the signature date to be considered in good order
Sources
Data sourced from MassMutual primary sources (19 pages reviewed). How we research.
Phone1-800-272-2216
Toll-Free1-800-272-2216
Mailing Address
MassMutual, 1295 State Street, Springfield, MA 01111-0001
Online Account Support
MassMutual Ascend Claims
Claims Department
Phone1-800-272-2216
Mailing Address
MassMutual, Attention: Life Hub, Springfield, MA 01111-0001
Online Account Support
MassMutual Ascend Claims
WebsiteLearn more→
Claims Department
Phone1-800-272-2216
Fax(513) 412-5122
Mailing Address
MassMutual, Attention: Life Hub, Springfield, MA 01111-0001
WebsiteNotify online→
Verified Jun 2026
Estate planning articles
Learn how to protect your MassMutual accounts and other assets with trusts, beneficiary designations, and estate planning documents.
