How to name beneficiaries and fund a trust at Oppenheimer
Covers 11 investment, and 7 retirement accounts — beneficiaries must be updated in-branch
Phone1-800-221-5588
Toll-Free1-800-221-5588
Email[email protected]
Mailing Address
Oppenheimer & Co. Inc., 85 Broad Street, New York, NY 10004
Client Help Line (account access)
New York Headquarters
Oppenheimer Trust Company of Delaware
Oppenheimer Trust Company of Delaware
Phone(302) 529-2201
Email[email protected]
Mailing Address
Oppenheimer Trust Company of Delaware, 3411 Silverside Road, Tatnall Building, Suite 105, Wilmington, DE 19810
Client Help Line
New York Headquarters
WebsiteLearn more→
Death Claims / Estate Settlement
Phone1-800-221-5588
Mailing Address
Oppenheimer & Co. Inc., 85 Broad Street, New York, NY 10004
WebsiteNotify online→
Verified Apr 2026
Estate planning for your Oppenheimer 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.
Oppenheimer has 18 product types, and the estate transfer rules differ across them. Some support Transfer on Death (TOD) designations, some can be retitled into a trust, and others will require probate if nothing is set up. Each is covered below.
Oppenheimer Individual Brokerage AccountOppenheimer Joint Brokerage AccountOppenheimer Investment Advisers (OIA) AccountOppenheimer Unified Managed Account (UMA)Oppenheimer Preference Advisory AccountOppenheimer Strategic Asset Review (STAR) AccountOppenheimer Portfolio Advisory Services (PAS) Flex AccountOppenheimer Trust AccountOppenheimer 529 Education Savings PlanOppenheimer Coverdell Education Savings Account (ESA)Oppenheimer Estate Account
1
Visit your Oppenheimer Financial Professional at your local office with government-issued photo ID
2
Complete the beneficiary designation or TOD registration form:
- Provide beneficiary information: full legal name, date of birth, Social Security number, relationship, and address
- Specify primary and contingent beneficiaries with percentage allocations (must total 100%)
- For a trust as beneficiary: provide trust name, date established, and EIN
3
Review and sign the completed form
Required Documents
- Trust name, date established, and tax ID (EIN or SSN)
Special Requirements
- TOD registration fee: $50 initial setup, $25 per beneficiary change, $25 per distribution upon death
- A trust can be named as TOD beneficiary on brokerage accounts or as beneficiary on retirement accounts
- TOD and beneficiary designations generally take precedence over wills or trusts
- Oppenheimer recommends reviewing beneficiary designations annually and after major life events such as marriage, divorce, birth of a child, or death of a family member
- Spousal consent may be required for certain retirement account beneficiary changes
Phone1-800-221-5588
Toll-Free1-800-221-5588
Email[email protected]
Mailing Address
Oppenheimer & Co. Inc., 85 Broad Street, New York, NY 10004
Client Help Line (account access)
New York Headquarters
Oppenheimer Trust Company of Delaware
Oppenheimer Trust Company of Delaware
Phone(302) 529-2201
Email[email protected]
Mailing Address
Oppenheimer Trust Company of Delaware, 3411 Silverside Road, Tatnall Building, Suite 105, Wilmington, DE 19810
Client Help Line
New York Headquarters
WebsiteLearn more→
Death Claims / Estate Settlement
Phone1-800-221-5588
Mailing Address
Oppenheimer & Co. Inc., 85 Broad Street, New York, NY 10004
WebsiteNotify online→
Verified Apr 2026
Estate planning articles
Learn how to protect your Oppenheimer accounts and other assets with trusts, beneficiary designations, and estate planning documents.
