How to name beneficiaries and fund a trust at William Blair
Covers 6 investment, 1 deposit, and 4 retirement accounts — beneficiaries can be managed online
Phone(312) 236-1600
Toll-Free1-800-730-6003
EmailPWM@williamblair.com
Mailing Address
William Blair & Company, L.L.C., 150 North Riverside Plaza, Chicago, IL 60606
Los Angeles Private Wealth
William Blair Funds (Mutual Funds)
William Blair Funds (Prospectuses)
Private Wealth Management / Wealth Strategy
Phone(312) 236-1600
Toll-Free1-800-730-6003
EmailPWM@williamblair.com
Mailing Address
William Blair & Company, L.L.C., 150 North Riverside Plaza, Chicago, IL 60606
Los Angeles Private Wealth
WebsiteLearn more→
Phone(312) 236-1600
Toll-Free1-800-730-6003
EmailPWM@williamblair.com
Mailing Address
William Blair & Company, L.L.C., 150 North Riverside Plaza, Chicago, IL 60606
Verified Jul 2026
Preparing your William Blair investment accounts for estate transfer involves two primary strategies: designating beneficiaries on individual accounts and, where supported, retitling accounts into a revocable living trust. Both approaches bypass probate, but they work differently depending on the account type.
Across 11 product types, William Blair investment accounts vary in how they transfer at death. The sections below walk through Transfer on Death (TOD) designations, trust funding options, and which products support each method.
William Blair Cash Management Account
1
Access the My William Blair client portal
- Log in to the My William Blair client portal at williamblair.com/mywilliamblair or the My William Blair mobile app
- Navigate to account settings or contact your advisor through the secure messaging feature
2
Coordinate beneficiary updates through the portal
- Beneficiary updates may require advisor involvement; the portal provides access to account documents and advisor communication
- For portal support, call 1-800-730-6003, Monday-Friday 8:30 AM-5:00 PM CT, or email PWM@williamblair.com
Required Documents
- Trust name, date established, and tax ID (EIN or SSN)
Special Requirements
- Most beneficiary changes are handled through the assigned private wealth advisor
- My William Blair client portal available for account access and advisor communication
- TOD designation supersedes will provisions for the account
- William Blair publishes an estate planning checklist recommending regular review of beneficiary designations
- Digital assets should also be addressed in estate planning per William Blair guidance
- For mutual fund accounts, contact William Blair Funds at 1-800-635-2886, Monday-Thursday 8:00 AM-7:00 PM ET, Friday 8:00 AM-6:00 PM ET
Sources
Data sourced from William Blair primary sources (21 pages reviewed). How we research.
Download these William Blair instructions
Download instructions for the whole estateA printable PDF with the steps, required documents, and contact details — verified against William Blair primary sources. Bring it to the branch or keep it beside the phone.
Phone(312) 236-1600
Toll-Free1-800-730-6003
EmailPWM@williamblair.com
Mailing Address
William Blair & Company, L.L.C., 150 North Riverside Plaza, Chicago, IL 60606
Los Angeles Private Wealth
William Blair Funds (Mutual Funds)
William Blair Funds (Prospectuses)
Private Wealth Management / Wealth Strategy
Phone(312) 236-1600
Toll-Free1-800-730-6003
EmailPWM@williamblair.com
Mailing Address
William Blair & Company, L.L.C., 150 North Riverside Plaza, Chicago, IL 60606
Los Angeles Private Wealth
WebsiteLearn more→
Phone(312) 236-1600
Toll-Free1-800-730-6003
EmailPWM@williamblair.com
Mailing Address
William Blair & Company, L.L.C., 150 North Riverside Plaza, Chicago, IL 60606
Verified Jul 2026
Estate planning articles
Learn how to protect your William Blair accounts and other assets with trusts, beneficiary designations, and estate planning documents.
