Estate planning at Zurich

To transfer ownership to a trust, complete the Collateral/Absolute Assignment form (ZA-8154) and the Trustee Certification form (ZA-1068). Include a copy of the trust document. Both forms are available at zurichamericanlifeinsurance.com or by calling 1-888-634-6780. Mail the completed forms and trust documentation to Zurich American Life Insurance Company, 7045 College Boulevard, 8th Floor, Overland Park, KS 66211. Once ownership is transferred to an irrevocable trust, the grantor loses ownership and control over the policy.

The Trustee Certification form (ZA-1068) is required when transferring ownership of a Zurich life insurance policy or annuity contract to a trust. The form certifies the trust details and trustee authority. It must be accompanied by a copy of the trust document. The form is available for download at zurichamericanlifeinsurance.com or by calling 1-888-634-6780.

The Guaranteed Retirement Income Benefit (GRIB) is a rider available on certain Zurich deferred annuity contracts. It converts upon annuitization to provide fixed lifetime income payments. The GRIB may be exercised beginning with the 7th contract anniversary once the contract owner attains age 60. A GRIB Cancellation Form (ZA-1329) is available if you wish to cancel the benefit, and a GRIB Annuity Income Option Form (ZA-9000) is used to elect the benefit. Contact Zurich at 1-800-457-9047 for details.

Life insurance and annuity products are issued by Zurich American Life Insurance Company (ZALICO), domiciled in Illinois with offices in Overland Park, Kansas, and by Zurich American Life Insurance Company of New York (ZALICONY) for New York residents, with offices at 4 World Trade Center, 54th Floor, 150 Greenwich Street, New York, NY 10007. Both companies are subsidiaries of Zurich Insurance Group, headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland. Zurich holds an A+ rating from A.M. Best.

Yes, a trust can be named as the owner or beneficiary of a Zurich annuity contract. To name a trust as beneficiary, complete form ZA-1025 (Non-Financial Change Form) with the trust name and date established. To transfer ownership to a trust, complete the Collateral/Absolute Assignment form (ZA-8154) and the Trustee Certification form (ZA-1068), along with a copy of the trust document. Contact 1-800-457-9047 for variable annuity contracts or 1-800-621-5001 for fixed annuity contracts for assistance.

Zurich maintains separate phone lines by product type. For variable annuity and variable life contracts, call 1-800-457-9047. For fixed annuity contracts, call 1-800-621-5001. For Scudder Destinations variable annuity contracts (contract numbers beginning with KI), call 1-800-449-0523. All lines are available Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. CST. For life insurance contracts, call 1-888-634-6780 or 1-877-301-5376. Contact information is listed at https://www.zurichamericanlifeinsurance.com/ContactUs.jsp.