What to do when a Stifel account holder dies
Contact Stifel's Stifel Trust Company, N.A. — 4-step process, 7 required documents, and varies by complexity. tod claims may process in days to weeks. full probate estates can take several months.
Stifel Support (Monday-Friday, 6:00 AM-6:00 PM CT)
Stifel Financial, One Financial Plaza, 501 North Broadway, St. Louis, MO 63102
Stifel Trust Company, N.A.
Stifel Trust Company, N.A., One Financial Plaza, 501 North Broadway, St. Louis, MO 63102
Death Claims (via Stifel Support, Monday-Friday, 6:00 AM-6:00 PM CT)
Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated, One Financial Plaza, 501 North Broadway, St. Louis, MO 63102
When an account holder at Stifel passes away, the next step depends on how the investment accounts were set up. Accounts with beneficiary designations or trust ownership transfer outside of probate. Accounts titled solely in the deceased's name require the estate's legal representative to work with Stifel's Death Claims (via Stifel Support, Monday-Friday, 6:00 AM-6:00 PM CT) (1-314-342-2255) to access and distribute the funds.
Begin by calling Stifel at 1-314-342-2255. You will need the deceased's full name, account numbers, and a certified death certificate to get the process started.
Death claim process
Here is the step-by-step death claim process at Stifel:
Filing a claim
- Contact the decedent's Stifel financial advisor or local Stifel branch
- If advisor is unknown, call Stifel Support at (800) 679-5446 or (314) 342-2255
- Obtain certified death certificates (at least 10 copies recommended)
- Locate all relevant estate planning documents (will, trust, beneficiary designations)
- Submit required documents to the Stifel branch or home office
- For TOD accounts: beneficiary presents death certificate and ID (bypasses probate)
- For probate accounts: file petition for probate with the appropriate court, submit Letters Testamentary to Stifel
- Establish an estate account at Stifel if needed for proper administration
Required Documents
- Certified death certificate (multiple copies)
- Government-issued ID for executor, trustee, or claimant
- Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration (if going through probate)
- Copy of the will or trust document (if applicable)
- Trust tax identification number (TIN) if assets transfer to a trust
- Inheritance tax waiver (required by certain states)
- Stifel estate/claim forms (provided by advisor)
What to know at this institution
Contact the decedent's financial advisor or local Stifel branch first. Stifel Trust Company can serve as executor when named in estate documents. Obtain at least 10 certified death certificates. For TOD accounts, assets transfer directly to named beneficiaries without probate. Stifel Support is also available at (314) 342-2255.
Prepare your letter of instruction to Stifel
Stifel asks for a letter of instruction alongside its claim form. We prepare a transmittal cover letter and the enclosure checklist Stifel requires.
Build your letter of instructionExpected timelines at Stifel: Varies by complexity. TOD claims may process in days to weeks. Full probate estates can take several months. Delays are almost always caused by incomplete paperwork—gathering all required documents before filing the initial claim helps avoid back-and-forth.
Stifel requires several documents to process a claim, including Certified death certificate (multiple copies), Government-issued ID for executor, trustee, or claimant, and Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration (if going through probate), 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
Yes. Per Stifel's Account Agreement and Disclosure Booklet, Stifel charges a $75 fee per beneficiary at the time of a TOD distribution. This fee is assessed when assets are transferred to a named TOD beneficiary following the account owner's death. The fee is separate from any other account or administrative charges.
Stifel's Death Claims (via Stifel Support, Monday-Friday, 6:00 AM-6:00 PM CT) can be reached by phone at 1-800-679-5446 for questions throughout the claims process.
If the deceased held multiple Stifel investment accounts, each may require a separate claim or have different documentation requirements. The Death Claims (via Stifel Support, Monday-Friday, 6:00 AM-6:00 PM CT) can confirm which accounts require individual attention and which can be processed together.
Sources
Data sourced from Stifel primary sources (20 pages reviewed). How we research.
Stifel Support (Monday-Friday, 6:00 AM-6:00 PM CT)
Stifel Financial, One Financial Plaza, 501 North Broadway, St. Louis, MO 63102
Stifel Trust Company, N.A.
Stifel Trust Company, N.A., One Financial Plaza, 501 North Broadway, St. Louis, MO 63102
Death Claims (via Stifel Support, Monday-Friday, 6:00 AM-6:00 PM CT)
Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated, One Financial Plaza, 501 North Broadway, St. Louis, MO 63102
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