How to name beneficiaries and fund a trust at Public
Covers 4 investment, 1 deposit, 1 crypto, and 2 retirement accounts — beneficiaries can be managed online
Member Support
228 Park Ave Suite 97716, New York, NY 10013
Member Support
228 Park Ave Suite 97716, New York, NY 10013
The key to protecting your Public investment accounts is making sure each one has a transfer mechanism in place—either a beneficiary designation or trust ownership. Without one, the account goes through probate, adding time, cost, and court involvement for your family.
Public has 8 investment accounts with different estate transfer rules. Here is how beneficiary designations, trust ownership, and probate apply to each one.
- Open the Public app or visit https://public.com and log in
- On mobile: tap the menu icon in the top left corner, then Settings > Profile > Personal Information > Beneficiaries
- On web: click the menu icon in the top right corner, then scroll to Beneficiaries on the Personal Information page
- Select your IRA account and tap +Add in the top right corner to add a beneficiary
- Enter beneficiary details and confirm
- Beneficiaries cannot be added in-app for brokerage accounts; contact Member Support at support@public.com or via in-app chat at https://app.public.com/support/chat to request a TOD registration form
Required Documents
- Trust name, date established, and tax ID (EIN or SSN)
Special Requirements
- Brokerage TOD and IRA beneficiary are separate processes
- Brokerage accounts require a TOD registration form obtained from Member Support
- IRA beneficiaries can be added directly through the app or website
- Public does not currently support linking multiple members to the same account
- Support available via in-app chat and email only (no phone support)
- For TOD accounts with non-U.S. beneficiaries, Public will liquidate the account and wire funds; additional restrictions may apply by country
Sources
Data sourced from Public primary sources (26 pages reviewed). How we research.
Download these Public instructions
Download instructions for the whole estateA printable PDF with the steps, required documents, and contact details — verified against Public primary sources. Bring it to the branch or keep it beside the phone.
Member Support
228 Park Ave Suite 97716, New York, NY 10013
Member Support
228 Park Ave Suite 97716, New York, NY 10013
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