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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).

Stifel Brokerage AccountJoint Account with Rights of SurvivorshipStifel Fundamentals ProgramStifel Horizon ProgramStifel Solutions ProgramStifel Opportunity ProgramCustom Advisory Portfolio (CAP) ProgramStifel Trust AccountStifel Summit Program
1
Contact your Stifel Financial Advisor about adding or updating beneficiaries
2
Brokerage (TOD) 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
3
IRAs (Stifel Bank as custodian):
  • Designate beneficiaries on Stifel's Beneficiary Designation Addendum/Change form or a form acceptable to Stifel
4
To change or revoke a TOD designation later, submit a TOD Beneficiary Update or Revocation Form

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

IRA

IRA beneficiaries are designated on Stifel's Beneficiary Designation Addendum/Change form or a form acceptable to Stifel, with Stifel Bank as custodian.1

An IRA designation is effective only when filed during the owner's lifetime, and each new designation cancels previous ones.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

TOD Agreement and Beneficiary Designation

For investment accounts. Sent by the institution on request.1

Beneficiary Designation Addendum/Change form

For IRAs. Sent by the institution on request.1

TOD Beneficiary Update or Revocation Form

For investment accounts. Sent by the institution on request.1

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

Louisiana

TOD accounts are not available to residents of Louisiana.1

PR

TOD accounts are not available to residents of Puerto Rico.1

Which accounts a trust can hold2

Investment account

Stifel accounts can be held in a representative capacity, including as a trustee.1

Trust account

Each Stifel Trust account has a dedicated Trust Officer and Investment Officer.2, 3

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

Sources3

SimplyTrustSimplyTrust Editorial·

Sources

Data sourced from Stifel primary sources (21 pages reviewed). How we research.

Download these Stifel instructions

Download instructions for the whole estate

A 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)

Verified Sep 2026

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