How to name beneficiaries and fund a trust at TIAA

On the Beneficiary Designation Form (F11468), designations are made at the contract or account level. Plan-based designations are not accepted.¹

A life insurance beneficiary change is made on the original signed and dated form, sent by mail. A faxed request is not accepted.²

A non-qualified annuity beneficiary change is made on the original signed and dated form, sent by mail. A faxed request is not accepted.³

An individual can be named as a beneficiary.¹

A trust can be named as a beneficiary on the retirement plan and IRA forms (F11468, F11015, F11555).^{1, 4, 5}

Your estate can be named as a beneficiary.¹

An institution or an organization can be named as a beneficiary.¹

A testamentary trust can be named only with the creation date of the will. TIAA does not accept "Will" as a designation.¹

A married participant naming someone other than the spouse needs the spouse's consent, signed in front of a Notary Public or Plan Representative.¹

Under F11468, a spouse is entitled to at least 50%, up to 100%, of death benefits under a plan covered by ERISA, the plan's provisions or state law. TIAA pays the spouse regardless of the designation unless a valid spousal waiver is on file.¹

On the brokerage IRA form (F11015), a married owner in a community or marital property state who does not name the spouse as sole primary beneficiary needs the spouse's notarized signature.⁴

A notary signature is required for residents of the community property states the life insurance form lists. A collateral assignee must sign before a notary.²

A change where an irrevocable beneficiary is listed requires that beneficiary's signature before a notary.^{2, 3}

A change where an irrevocable beneficiary is listed requires that beneficiary's signature before a notary.^{2, 3}

Available to download.¹

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For investment accounts. Available to download.⁶

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For IRAs. Available to download.⁴

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For IRAs. Available to download.⁵

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Available to download.⁷

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For life insurance policys. Available to download.²

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For annuitys. Available to download.³

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Available to download.⁸

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On F11468, if none of the beneficiaries are living at your death, TIAA pays your estate unless the plan provision states otherwise.¹

On a taxable TIAA Brokerage transfer on death account (F11004), Pershing uses the per capita method unless per stirpes is checked.⁶

A trust can own a TIAA Brokerage account: the Trust registration on the account application (F11035), with the Trustee Certification of Investment Powers (F11071).^{11, 12}

A trust can own a TIAA-CREF Life insurance policy (F1008).²

A trust can own a non-qualified annuity (F7737).³

For TIAA and CREF retirement plan and annuity contracts, TIAA's form names a trust as beneficiary (F11468).¹

For IRAs, TIAA's forms name a trust as beneficiary (F11468, F11015, F11555).^{1, 4, 5}

For investment accounts. Available to download.¹¹

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For investment accounts. Completed by every trustee. Available to download.¹²

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For life insurance policys. Completed by all trustees, when the policy is trust owned. Available to download.²

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For annuitys. Completed by all trustees, when the contract is trust owned. Available to download.³

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TIAA Brokerage does not review or interpret the trust document. The trustees agree to provide a copy of the trust agreement if requested.¹²

Every trustee signs the Trustee Certification of Investment Powers (F11071). A power of attorney is not allowed on a trust account.¹²

The life insurance (F1008) and non-qualified annuity (F7737) forms take the name of the trust as policy or contract owner. All trustees sign when the policy or contract is trust owned.^{2, 3}

Investment management, custody and trust services; executor or successor trustee through TIAA Estate Settlement Services^{13, 14, 15}