Beneficiaries and Designations 

You may name more than one beneficiary and assign them different roles: 

• Primary beneficiaries are the first in line to receive benefits after your death. 
  • You can name one or more primary beneficiaries. 
  • If you name more than one, you must choose how to divide the benefit (for example, equal shares or specific percentages). 
• Secondary (contingent) beneficiaries are next in line. 
  • They are only entitled to benefits if none of your primary beneficiaries are living (or can be located) when a benefit becomes payable.

If you do not have a valid beneficiary designation on file at the time of your death, or if your beneficiary dies before you and you have not updated your designations, your plan’s default beneficiary rules apply.

Generally: 

• If you are married at the time of your death, your surviving spouse is often the default beneficiary. 
• If you are not married, your estate is typically the default beneficiary, and your heirs may be determined according to applicable state law.  

Relying on default rules means the outcome may not match your wishes, which is why keeping your beneficiary designations up to date is so important.

Depending on the Wespath-administered plans in which you participate, your beneficiary may receive:

• Any remaining balance in your defined contribution retirement accounts. 
• Any scheduled payments still due under certain annuity or installment options, if you die before the end of a guaranteed payment period. 
• Death or survivor benefits that may be available under applicable benefit or protection plans.  

Specific benefits and payment options depend on the plans you have and the elections you have made.

You can review and update your Wespath beneficiary designations at any time. 

• Online: 
  Log in to Benefits Access, Wespath’s secure participant website, to view your current beneficiary information and make updates. 

For certain life insurance or other non-retirement benefits administered by third-party providers (such as Unum), you may need to contact that provider directly to add or change retirement plan beneficiaries.