What to do when a ShareBuilder 401k account holder dies

Contact ShareBuilder 401k — 6-step process, 6 required documents, and typically 2-6 weeks after all required documentation is received and verified

ShareBuilder 401k

Subsidiary of ShareBuilder Inc.

sharebuilder401k.com
ShareBuilder 401k logo

ShareBuilder 401k Customer Support

Mailing Address

ShareBuilder Advisors, LLC, 801 2nd Ave Suite 1400, Seattle, WA 98104

Plan Sponsor Support
Plan Participant Support
Participant Services

ShareBuilder 401k Customer Support

Mailing Address

ShareBuilder Advisors, LLC, 801 2nd Ave Suite 1400, Seattle, WA 98104

Plan Sponsor Support
Plan Participant Support
Participant Services

Plan Sponsor Support / Participant Services

Mailing Address

ShareBuilder Advisors, LLC, 801 2nd Ave Suite 1400, Seattle, WA 98104

Participant Services
Verified Jul 2026

After an account holder at ShareBuilder 401k dies, accounts with beneficiary designations or trust ownership transfer to the designated recipients without probate. Solely-owned accounts require the estate's representative to contact ShareBuilder 401k's Plan Sponsor Support / Participant Services at (800) 431-7934 x3 with the proper legal authority documents.

To start, call ShareBuilder 401k at (800) 431-7934 x3. Have the account holder's full name, account numbers, and a certified death certificate ready before you call.

Death claim process

Here is the step-by-step death claim process at ShareBuilder 401k:

Filing a claim

1
Notify ShareBuilder 401k of the participant's death:
  • The plan sponsor (employer) should contact Plan Sponsor Support at (800) 431-7934 x3, Monday-Friday 9AM-8PM EST
  • Beneficiaries may contact Plan Participant Support at (800) 431-7934 x4 or email 401kpros@sb401k.com
2
Submit a certified copy of the death certificate
3
Establish identity and beneficiary status:
  • Provide government-issued photo ID
  • Plan records will be referenced to confirm the beneficiary designation on file
  • If no beneficiary designation is on file, the plan document's default provisions apply (typically surviving spouse, then the estate)
4
Select a distribution option:
  • Lump-sum distribution
  • Direct rollover to an inherited IRA (for eligible designated beneficiaries)
  • Under the SECURE Act, most non-spouse beneficiaries must distribute the entire account within 10 years of the participant's death
  • Surviving spouses may treat the account as their own, roll it to their own IRA, or take distributions over their life expectancy
5
Complete the distribution request form provided by ShareBuilder 401k and submit with all required documentation
6
Allow processing time for distribution of funds

Required Documents

  • Certified copy of the death certificate
  • Government-issued photo ID for the beneficiary or authorized representative
  • Completed distribution request form (provided by ShareBuilder 401k)
  • Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration (if the estate is the named beneficiary)
  • Trust documentation (if a trust is the named beneficiary)
  • Receiving IRA account information (if electing a direct rollover)

What to know at this institution

Under the SECURE Act of 2019 (as modified by SECURE 2.0), most non-spouse beneficiaries must distribute the entire inherited 401(k) account within 10 years of the participant's death. Eligible designated beneficiaries -- surviving spouse, minor children of the participant, disabled or chronically ill individuals, and individuals not more than 10 years younger than the participant -- may qualify for longer distribution periods. The plan sponsor (employer) is typically the first point of contact and can facilitate communication with ShareBuilder 401k on behalf of beneficiaries.

Download instructions for the whole estate

Prepare your letter of instruction to ShareBuilder 401k

ShareBuilder 401k asks for a letter of instruction alongside its claim form. We prepare a transmittal cover letter and the enclosure checklist ShareBuilder 401k requires.

Build your letter of instruction

How long the process takes at ShareBuilder 401k: Typically 2-6 weeks after all required documentation is received and verified. The most common reason for delays is missing or incomplete documentation, so submitting everything upfront is the best way to keep things moving.

ShareBuilder 401k requires several documents to process a claim, including Certified copy of the death certificate, Government-issued photo ID for the beneficiary or authorized representative, and Completed distribution request form (provided by ShareBuilder 401k), and additional documentation depending on the account type. Certified copies are typically needed—photocopies are generally not accepted for death certificates or court documents.


Frequently asked questions

Upon a participant's death, the plan sponsor (employer) should notify ShareBuilder 401k by calling Plan Sponsor Support at (800) 431-7934 x3. Beneficiaries may also contact Participant Support at x4. A certified death certificate, government-issued ID, and distribution request form are required. Most non-spouse beneficiaries must distribute the entire inherited account within 10 years under the SECURE Act. Eligible designated beneficiaries -- surviving spouse, minor children of the participant, disabled or chronically ill individuals, and individuals no more than 10 years younger than the participant -- may qualify for longer distribution periods.

ShareBuilder 401k's Plan Sponsor Support / Participant Services can be reached by phone at (800) 431-7934 x3 for questions throughout the claims process.

Multiple ShareBuilder 401k retirement accounts may mean multiple claims. Some account types can be processed together, but others require their own documentation. Check with the Plan Sponsor Support / Participant Services to confirm what applies.

SimplyTrustSimplyTrust Editorial·

Sources

Data sourced from ShareBuilder 401k primary sources (13 pages reviewed). How we research.

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