How to designate beneficiaries at Wealthsimple

Covers 2 investment accounts — beneficiaries can be managed online

Wealthsimple

Brokerage · Online Only

wealthsimple.com
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Wealthsimple Client Success

Mailing Address

Wealthsimple Inc., 80 Spadina Ave, Toronto, ON M5V 2J4, Canada

Wealthsimple Client Success

Mailing Address

Wealthsimple Inc., 80 Spadina Ave, Toronto, ON M5V 2J4, Canada

Wealthsimple Estates Team

Mailing Address

Wealthsimple Inc., 80 Spadina Ave, Toronto, ON M5V 2J4, Canada

Verified Jul 2026

There are two ways to keep your Wealthsimple investment accounts out of probate: adding beneficiary designations and structuring ownership to align with your estate plan. Which approach works best depends on the account type and your overall estate plan.

Each of Wealthsimple's 2 investment accounts has different rules for how it transfers at death. The sections below explain the options for each.

Managed InvestingSelf-Directed Trading
1
Log in to your Wealthsimple account at wealthsimple.com or the Wealthsimple app
2
Navigate to the registered account settings
3
Select "Add a beneficiary" or "Add a successor"
4
Enter the beneficiary's full legal name and other required details
5
Assign percentage allocations if naming multiple primary beneficiaries
6
For successor designations, complete the online form (no physical signature required)

Special Requirements

  • Beneficiary designations are only available for Canadian registered accounts (RRSP, TFSA, RESP, FHSA)
  • Non-registered and chequing accounts require a will for estate distribution
  • Quebec residents cannot designate beneficiaries through Wealthsimple due to provincial law
  • A primary beneficiary receives the funds in the account (not the account itself), bypassing the estate and avoiding probate fees, but the account is terminated
  • This process is not available to US residents as Wealthsimple no longer operates in the US
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust Editorial·

Sources

Data sourced from Wealthsimple primary sources (11 pages reviewed). How we research.

Download these Wealthsimple instructions

Download instructions for the whole estate

A printable PDF with the steps, required documents, and contact details — verified against Wealthsimple primary sources. Bring it to the branch or keep it beside the phone.

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