How to name beneficiaries and fund a trust at Mercer Advisors

A trust can be named as beneficiary of an IRA.¹

A trust can be named as beneficiary of an annuity.¹

A trust can be named as beneficiary of a life insurance policy.¹

Primary and contingent beneficiaries are named with percentage allocations on the custodian's or carrier's form.¹

Some custodians require a Medallion Signature Guarantee on a TOD registration or a change of registration.¹

For investment accounts. Completed by the account owner, with the advisor coordinating. Sent by the institution on request.¹

For IRAs. Completed by the account owner, with the advisor coordinating. Sent by the institution on request.¹

For life insurance policys. Completed by the policy owner, with the advisor coordinating. Sent by the institution on request.¹

For annuitys. Completed by the contract owner, with the advisor coordinating. Sent by the institution on request.¹

The custodian's record controls at death. A beneficiary named in an estate plan Mercer helped build has no effect on an IRA whose custodian still shows an old designation.¹

The client portal is a reporting and planning view. Mercer Advisors does not hold the assets, so the beneficiary designation itself is never made on a Mercer form.³

Estate planning is included in the advisory fee at the Custom Wealth service level ($1 million+ in investable assets) and above. Guided Investing is investment management only and does not include it.¹

Taxable brokerage and managed accounts can be titled to a revocable or irrevocable trust.¹

An IRA cannot be titled to a trust. A trust can be named as its beneficiary, but not as its owner.¹

Trust-related assets are often moved to National Advisors Trust Company (NATC), the custodian Mercer recommends for trust assets.¹

Completed by the trustees, through the advisor. Sent by the institution on request.²

In most cases clients with over $1.5 million in assets under management who meet minimum fee requirements qualify to engage ASLG for a foundational estate plan (trust, will and incapacity documents) at no additional fee. The $1.5 million threshold is at ASLG's discretion and subject to change without notice.¹

Holds Mercer Advisors client accounts as custodian; its forms carry the designation and the retitling¹

Holds Mercer Advisors client accounts as custodian; its forms carry the designation and the retitling¹

Holds Mercer Advisors client accounts as custodian; its forms carry the designation and the retitling¹

Holds Mercer Advisors client accounts as custodian; its forms carry the designation and the retitling¹

Trust-related assets, as the custodian the Form ADV names as recommended for them¹

Life insurance and annuities; the designation is made on the issuing carrier's beneficiary change form¹