How to name beneficiaries and fund a trust at Sentinel Benefits
Covers 7 retirement accounts — beneficiaries can be managed online
Sentinel Service Center
Phone(781) 914-1200
Toll-Free(888) 762-6088
Fax(781) 213-6770
Mailing Address
Sentinel Benefits & Financial Group, 100 Quannapowitt Parkway, P.O. Box 4010, Wakefield, MA 01880
Sales
FSA Claim Submission Fax
WebsiteLearn more→
Sentinel Service Center
Phone(781) 914-1200
Toll-Free(888) 762-6088
Fax(781) 213-6770
Mailing Address
Sentinel Benefits & Financial Group, 100 Quannapowitt Parkway, P.O. Box 4010, Wakefield, MA 01880
Sales
FSA Claim Submission Fax
WebsiteLearn more→
Sentinel Service Center
Phone(781) 914-1200
Toll-Free(888) 762-6088
Fax(781) 213-6770
Mailing Address
Sentinel Benefits & Financial Group, 100 Quannapowitt Parkway, P.O. Box 4010, Wakefield, MA 01880
Verified Jul 2026
Beneficiary designations on Sentinel Benefits retirement retirement accounts carry more weight than most people realize. They override a will, control who receives the balance, and determine the tax treatment of inherited distributions. Reviewing these designations after any major life change is essential.
Each of Sentinel Benefits's 7 retirement accounts has different rules for how it transfers at death. The sections below explain the options for each.
TotalChoice 401(k) PlanTotalChoice 403(b) PlanTotalChoice 401(a) PlanTotalChoice 457(b) PlanCash Balance PlanDefined Benefit Pension PlanExecutive Benefits Program
1
Go to sentinelgroup.com and ensure "For Individuals" is selected in the upper left
2
Click the green "Login" button and select "Retirement Accounts" from the dropdown menu
3
Log in with your credentials (new users need a Plan Access Code provided by their employer)
4
Navigate to your account settings or profile and locate the beneficiary designation section
5
Designate primary and contingent beneficiaries, specifying the percentage allocation for each (must total 100%)
6
Provide required information for each beneficiary: full legal name, date of birth, Social Security number, and relationship to participant
7
Review and confirm your beneficiary designation; save or submit the changes
Required Documents
- Trust name, date established, and tax ID (EIN or SSN)
Special Requirements
- Under ERISA, a married participant's spouse is the automatic primary beneficiary of qualified retirement plan accounts unless the spouse provides written, notarized consent to name a different beneficiary
- Beneficiary designations should be reviewed and updated after major life events such as marriage, divorce, or birth of a child
- Plan participants can update beneficiary designations at any time
- Some plan types (457(b) for non-governmental employers, nonqualified deferred compensation) may have different beneficiary rules per plan document
- New users need a Plan Access Code provided by their employer to register for the online portal
Sources
Data sourced from Sentinel Benefits primary sources (15 pages reviewed). How we research.
Download these Sentinel Benefits instructions
Download instructions for the whole estateA printable PDF with the steps, required documents, and contact details — verified against Sentinel Benefits primary sources. Bring it to the branch or keep it beside the phone.
Sentinel Service Center
Phone(781) 914-1200
Toll-Free(888) 762-6088
Fax(781) 213-6770
Mailing Address
Sentinel Benefits & Financial Group, 100 Quannapowitt Parkway, P.O. Box 4010, Wakefield, MA 01880
Sales
FSA Claim Submission Fax
WebsiteLearn more→
Sentinel Service Center
Phone(781) 914-1200
Toll-Free(888) 762-6088
Fax(781) 213-6770
Mailing Address
Sentinel Benefits & Financial Group, 100 Quannapowitt Parkway, P.O. Box 4010, Wakefield, MA 01880
Sales
FSA Claim Submission Fax
WebsiteLearn more→
Sentinel Service Center
Phone(781) 914-1200
Toll-Free(888) 762-6088
Fax(781) 213-6770
Mailing Address
Sentinel Benefits & Financial Group, 100 Quannapowitt Parkway, P.O. Box 4010, Wakefield, MA 01880
Verified Jul 2026
Estate planning articles
Learn how to protect your Sentinel Benefits accounts and other assets with trusts, beneficiary designations, and estate planning documents.
