How to name beneficiaries and fund a trust at Baird

Brokerage and advisory accounts custodied at Baird take a TOD designation on the advisor-provided Transfer on Death (TOD) Beneficiary Designation form.¹

IRAs custodied at Baird take the advisor-provided IRA Beneficiary Designation form.¹

TOD registration on a directly-held Baird Funds account is not available to an owner that is a corporation, trust or partnership, or to a resident of a state that has not adopted the Uniform Transfer on Death Security Registration Act.²

A trust can be named as beneficiary on brokerage and retirement accounts.¹

On the Baird Funds form, a joint owner listed in the account information section cannot also be named as a beneficiary.²

Percentage allocations for primary and contingent beneficiaries must total 100%.¹

A directly-held Baird Funds TOD account accepts up to nine beneficiaries and does not permit per stirpes or lineal-descendant designations. If no percentage is given on the form, the transfer agent gives each beneficiary an equal share.²

A Baird-custodied IRA allows a per stirpes election.¹

For brokerage and advisory accounts custodied at Baird, a designation "may only be made in a format provided by or acceptable to Baird in Baird's sole discretion."³

The directly-held Baird Funds form requires the spouse's signature if the owner resides in AZ, CA, ID, LA, NV, NM, TX, WA or WI and names someone other than or in addition to the spouse as primary beneficiary.²

For a Baird-custodied IRA, Baird relies on the client's written representation that a spouse consented. Baird collects no form and has "no duty to determine" marital status.¹

For investment accounts. Completed by the account owner, from your Baird Financial Advisor. Sent by the institution on request.¹

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For IRAs. Completed by the account owner, from your Baird Financial Advisor. Sent by the institution on request.¹

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Beneficiary designations typically take precedence over wills or trusts.¹

A Baird Funds designation "will not be in force unless it is signed and received by the custodian ... before the death of the account owner(s)."²

Completed by every trustee signs. Sent by the institution on request.¹

All trustees must sign the trust account application and provide the required identification.¹

Accounts can be retitled to a trust or a new trust account opened. For existing accounts, the Financial Advisor facilitates the change of registration.¹

Corporate trustee services for trust arrangements⁵