
Estate planning options at Stifel
The key to protecting your Stifel 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.
Stifel has 15 investment accounts with different estate transfer rules. Here is how beneficiary designations, trust ownership, and probate apply to each one.
Beneficiary form at Stifel
TOD Agreement and Beneficiary Designation (for investment accounts), Beneficiary Designation Addendum/Change form (for IRAs) and TOD Beneficiary Update or Revocation Form (for investment accounts).
- Complete the TOD Beneficiary Designation (Section II) and execute the TOD Agreement and Beneficiary Designation Signature Page (Section III)
- Designate one or more primary beneficiaries with percentages totaling 100%
- Choose one of six options for what happens if a primary beneficiary dies before the account holder
- Designate beneficiaries on Stifel's Beneficiary Designation Addendum/Change form or a form acceptable to Stifel
Required Documents
- TOD Agreement and Beneficiary Designation, completed and signed (for a brokerage TOD account)
- Beneficiary Designation Addendum/Change form, completed (for an IRA)
- Spousal consent, completed and notarized (if a living spouse is not a joint owner or sole primary beneficiary and the couple live or lived in a community property jurisdiction)
Required Documents
- Identifying information. Stifel may also ask for a copy of a driver's license or other identifying documents
- Trust agreement. For Stifel Bank accounts, Stifel Bank may review and retain a copy of any trust agreement establishing a fiduciary relationship
- Complete the TOD Beneficiary Designation (Section II) and execute the TOD Agreement and Beneficiary Designation Signature Page (Section III)
- Designate one or more primary beneficiaries with percentages totaling 100%
- Choose one of six options for what happens if a primary beneficiary dies before the account holder
- Designate beneficiaries on Stifel's Beneficiary Designation Addendum/Change form or a form acceptable to Stifel
Required Documents
- TOD Agreement and Beneficiary Designation, completed and signed (for a brokerage TOD account)
- Beneficiary Designation Addendum/Change form, completed (for an IRA)
- Spousal consent, completed and notarized (if a living spouse is not a joint owner or sole primary beneficiary and the couple live or lived in a community property jurisdiction)
- Complete the TOD Beneficiary Designation (Section II) and execute the TOD Agreement and Beneficiary Designation Signature Page (Section III)
- Designate one or more primary beneficiaries with percentages totaling 100%
- Choose one of six options for what happens if a primary beneficiary dies before the account holder
- Designate beneficiaries on Stifel's Beneficiary Designation Addendum/Change form or a form acceptable to Stifel
Required Documents
- TOD Agreement and Beneficiary Designation, completed and signed (for a brokerage TOD account)
- Beneficiary Designation Addendum/Change form, completed (for an IRA)
- Spousal consent, completed and notarized (if a living spouse is not a joint owner or sole primary beneficiary and the couple live or lived in a community property jurisdiction)
What Stifel says about beneficiaries and trusts
Each section is Stifel's own statement, with the document it comes from numbered under Sources.
Which accounts take a beneficiary2
- Investment account
TOD accounts are not available to residents outside the United States.1
Who can be named2
- A trust, investment accounts
A trust may be named as a designated beneficiary of a TOD account. Stifel may require written notice from the court-appointed personal representative identifying the trustee.1
- Someone outside the United States, investment accounts
Each designated beneficiary of a TOD account must be a U.S. citizen and a lawful U.S. resident.1
How many beneficiaries, and how shares are split
- Investment account
One or more primary beneficiaries are named with percentages totaling 100%. Percentages left unstated are treated as equal shares.1
What a designation takes to be effective
- All accounts
Spousal consent must be completed and notarized when the account holder has a living spouse who is not a joint owner, the couple live or have lived in a community property jurisdiction, and the spouse is not the sole primary beneficiary.1
- Investment account
An attorney-in-fact, guardian or conservator may not make or change a TOD designation unless the governing document or a court order expressly authorizes it.1
Beneficiary forms Stifel issues3
What Stifel's agreement says about beneficiaries3
- A beneficiary who dies first
The TOD designation offers six options for what happens if a primary beneficiary dies before the account holder, and the account holder chooses one.1
- When a designation takes effect
A TOD designation is effective only once received and accepted by Stifel Corporate Headquarters, and acceptance must occur before the account holder's death.1
- Changing or revoking a designation
A TOD designation is changed or revoked with a TOD Beneficiary Update or Revocation Form, which is effective only when accepted by Stifel before the account holder's death.1
State requirements Stifel statesLouisiana, PR
Which accounts a trust can hold2
Accounts handled elsewhere3
- Stifel Bank
Custodian of Stifel IRAs1
- Stifel Trust Company, N.A.
Trust and fiduciary services as trustee, co-trustee, agent, personal representative (executor) or custodian2, 3
- Stifel Trust Company Delaware, N.A.
Trust and fiduciary services, including Delaware directed, dynasty and quiet trusts3
Not in Stifel's published guidance1
- Trust-account opening checklist
Sources
Data sourced from Stifel primary sources (21 pages reviewed). How we research.
Download these Stifel instructions
Download instructions for the whole estateA printable PDF with the steps, required documents, and contact details — verified against Stifel primary sources. Bring it to the branch or keep it beside the phone.
Stifel estate support
Stifel Trust Company, N.A. (contact through a Stifel Financial Advisor or the Stifel Trust Services contact form)
Website
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