How to name beneficiaries and fund a trust at TradeStation

The TOD agreement is for individual or joint account owners and applies only to the specific account identified on it.¹

The owner represents residence in a jurisdiction that permits securities accounts in transfer-on-death form and agrees to notify TradeStation on ceasing to live there. TOD accounts are not available to residents of all jurisdictions.¹

A joint account takes a TOD registration when two or more natural persons hold it as joint tenants with rights of survivorship or as tenants by the entireties.¹

TOD accounts are not available to tenants-in-common registrations.¹

TOD accounts are not available to community property registrations.¹

TOD accounts are not available to non-natural persons.¹

TOD accounts are not available to non-natural persons.¹

IRA beneficiaries are named on the Beneficiary Change Form - IRA Accounts (Equities). The form changes beneficiaries only on the Equities IRA account numbers listed on it.²

Individuals can be named as primary beneficiaries.^{1, 2}

Guardianships can be named as primary beneficiaries.^{1, 2}

Entities can be named as primary beneficiaries.^{1, 2}

Trusts can be named as primary beneficiaries.¹

A trust named as an IRA beneficiary requires an attached legal opinion advising that the trust adheres to IRS Publication 590.²

Primary beneficiaries are named with percentages totaling 100%, and contingent beneficiaries can be named.^{1, 2}

If percentages within a class do not total 100%, TradeStation distributes pro rata within that class. If no percentages are given, it distributes equally.¹

Spousal consent with a witness signature is required if a single name account does not name the holder's spouse as sole primary beneficiary, or if the joint tenants on a joint account are not married to each other.¹

The spouse acknowledges that he or she may be waiving rights to any and all property placed in the account.¹

For investment accounts. Available to download.^{1, 3}

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For IRAs. Available to download.²

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A beneficiary designation must be in writing and received by TradeStation at least five business days before a distribution of the account to be effective.¹

A later designation automatically revokes a prior one.¹

A later marriage, divorce, remarriage or adoption does not affect a prior designation.¹

On the TOD form, the owner chooses where a predeceased primary beneficiary's share goes: lineal descendants, the surviving primary beneficiaries, the estate, or named contingent beneficiaries.¹

If no primary or contingent designation is in effect at death, TradeStation distributes the account to the estate.¹

Trust accounts for equities and futures are opened with the paper Entity Account Application.^{4, 5}

Available to download.^{4, 6}

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Completed by all trustees. Available to download.⁷

Accounts opened by a trust must be in the name of the trust.⁴

The Certificate of Trustees states that TradeStation policies may require the written approval of all trustees even where the trust agreement lets a trustee act individually.⁷

Beneficiary changes on Alternative Investment Accounts²