Adding or Updating a Beneficiary

WHY YOU NEED TO UPDATE YOUR BENEFICIARIES

Accounts that carry a beneficiary designation offer one of the simplest ways to transfer assets to loved ones after your death—but only if you have completed the paperwork properly and the information is up-to-date. Without a current beneficiary, your assets could pass in a manner that is inconsistent with your wishes (such as to an ex-spouse) and/or be subject to a potentially lengthy probate proceeding.

It’s important to review and update the beneficiary designations on your accounts on a regular basis. You may also want to check your beneficiaries whenever you have a major change in personal circumstances such as a divorce, marriage, adoption, the death of a spouse or birth of a child.

To ensure that your beneficiary designations meet your specific needs and address any requirements of your state law, you should obtain guidance from an attorney or estate planning professional when deciding upon the appropriate designations.

For FTIOS retirement accounts, please follow the directions below to add or update a beneficiary.

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  • To name primary and contingent beneficiaries for any FTIOS retirement account, please use the Franklin Templeton Designation of Beneficiary Form. We can receive the Designation of Beneficiary Form by email, fax or mail.

    For ERISA 403(b) custodial accounts only (section #5): If your Designation of Beneficiary Form requires a notary stamp, the form MUST be mailed to Franklin Templeton.

  • Please send the Designation of Beneficiary Form to SHrequests@franklintempleton.com.

    The following requirements must be met to receive documents via email:

    • Your email address must match an email address we have on file, and the email address cannot have been changed within the last 15 days.
    • Your request must include all required documents/forms.
      • Preferred attachment file types include: .PDF, .DOC, .DOCX, .JPG, .JPEG, .TIFF and .PNG

  • Please fax the Designation of Beneficiary Form to 1-855-891-8377.

    The following requirements must be met to send or receive documents via fax:

    • Signature guarantee, notary, original documents or original signatures are not required.
    • All required signatures must be included along with at least three pieces of identifying information:
      • Full name of the shareholder
      • SSN/TIN
      • Account number
      • Asset summary number
      • Address of record
      • Date of birth
      • Phone number
      • Most recent transaction

  • Please mail the Designation of Beneficiary Form to one of the addresses below. If the form requires a signature guarantee or notarization, we must receive the original.

    For WEST COAST, please mail to:
    FTIOS
    c/o Franklin Templeton Investor Services, LLC
    P.O. Box 997153
    Sacramento, CA 95899-7153
    Overnight Mail
    3344 Quality Drive
    Rancho Cordova, CA 95670-7313

    For EAST COAST, please mail to:
    FTIOS
    c/o Franklin Templeton Investor Services, LLC
    P.O. Box 33033
    St. Petersburg, FL 33733-8033
    Overnight Mail
    100 Fountain Parkway
    St. Petersburg, FL 33716-1205

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Franklin Distributors, LLC. Member FINRA/SIPC. Prior to July 7, 2021, Franklin Templeton Distributors, Inc., and Legg Mason Investor Services, LLC served as mutual fund distributors for Franklin Templeton.