Estate planning at Wealthfront
How to protect 12 Wealthfront accounts — manage beneficiaries online, fund a trust online, and file claims through Wealthfront's Customer Support
Wealthfront Corporation, 261 Hamilton Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94301
Customer Support
Wealthfront Corporation, 261 Hamilton Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94301
Wealthfront Customer Support (Estate Claims)
Wealthfront Corporation, 261 Hamilton Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94301
Wealthfront has 12 investment accounts, each with different rules for what happens when the account holder dies. Of those, 11 can name a trust as beneficiary or be retitled into a trust. The right combination of beneficiary designations and trust ownership can keep the entire portfolio out of probate.
Managing beneficiaries at Wealthfront is straightforward—changes can be made online and by mail, typically taking 10-15 minutes. Trust funding is also available, allowing families to retitle brokerage accounts into a trust.
Wealthfront has documented procedures for both preparing accounts during your lifetime and handling claims when an account holder passes away.
Preparing your estate
Beneficiaries and trust funding
How to manage beneficiaries online, fund a trust online, and review 12 account types at Wealthfront.
View details →When someone dies
Death claim process
Contact Wealthfront's Customer Support to file a claim. 3-step process, 6 required documents, and contact information for survivors.
View details →Wealthfront's Customer Support can answer questions about beneficiaries, trusts, or death claims at 1-844-995-8437. Email inquiries can be sent to support@wealthfront.com.
Frequently asked questions
No. Wealthfront does not support Inherited IRA, Beneficiary IRA, or Estate accounts directly. However, they can approve a transfer from the decedent's account to an Estate account or an Inherited IRA "FBO" (for the benefit of) the beneficiary at another institution via ACATS.
Trust cash accounts do not support debit card access, ATM withdrawals, or bill pay features. However, unlimited free transfers and wire transfers remain available. Trust investment accounts (including the automated portfolio, S&P 500 Direct, Nasdaq-100 Direct, bond products, and stock investing account) function the same as individual investment accounts.
You cannot retitle a Wealthfront brokerage account in place. Instead, open a new trust account through Wealthfront, provide trust details and a signed Trustee Certification of Investment Powers form, and then transfer assets from your individual account to the new trust account via an internal journal. Email support@wealthfront.com or call 844-995-8437 for assistance.
Sources
Data sourced from Wealthfront primary sources (22 pages reviewed). How we research.
Wealthfront Corporation, 261 Hamilton Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94301
Customer Support
Wealthfront Corporation, 261 Hamilton Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94301
Wealthfront Customer Support (Estate Claims)
Wealthfront Corporation, 261 Hamilton Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94301
Estate planning articles
Learn how to protect your Wealthfront accounts and other assets with trusts, beneficiary designations, and estate planning documents.
