How to Title a Self-Directed Investment in an Equity Trust Account

How to Title an Asset in Your Equity Trust Self-Directed Account

Sole Ownership Titling

Use this titling if your investment is titled directly to your account and your account is the only owner.

• For Traditional, Roth, SEP, and SIMPLE IRA account types, the titling should be worded as follows:

Equity Trust Company Custodian FBO (For Benefit Of) [Account Owner’s Name] IRA

Example:
Equity Trust Company Custodian FBO Jane Doe IRA

• For CESA and HSA account types, the titling should be worded as follows:

Equity Trust Company Custodian FBO [Account Owner’s Name] CESA
Or
Equity Trust Company Custodian FBO [Account Owner’s Name] HSA

Example:
Equity Trust Company Custodian FBO Jane Doe HSA

• For Qualified Plans including Individual 401(k)s:
  Call Client Services for details: 800-955-3434, Option 3

Co-Ownership Titling

(Multiple owners of one investment)

Use this titling if your investment is titled directly to your IRA and your IRA will be one of two or more owners of the same investment.

• For Traditional, Roth, SEP, and SIMPLE IRA account types, the titling should be worded as follows:

Equity Trust Company Custodian FBO [Account Owner’s Name] IRA, XX% Undivided Interest

(All owners combined must total 100%)

Example:
Equity Trust Company Custodian FBO Jane Doe IRA, 25% Undivided Interest and Equity Trust Company Custodian FBO Bob Smith IRA, 75% Undivided Interest

• For CESA and HSA account types, the titling should be worded as follows:

Equity Trust Company Custodian FBO [Account Owner’s Name] CESA, XX% Undivided Interest
or
Equity Trust Company Custodian FBO [Account Owner’s Name] HSA, XX% Undivided Interest

(All owners combined must total 100%, but owners’ methods of funding do not have to be identical)

Example 1: Jane Doe uses an HSA and Bob Smith uses an IRA:
Equity Trust Company Custodian FBO Jane Doe HSA, 25% Undivided Interest and Equity Trust Company Custodian FBO Bob Smith IRA, 75% Undivided Interest

Example 2: Jane Doe uses an HSA and Bob Smith funds with cash:
Equity Trust Company Custodian FBO Jane Doe HSA, 25% Undivided Interest and Bob Smith, 75% Undivided Interest

• For Qualified Plans including Individual 401(k)s:
  Call client services for details at 800-955-3434, Option 3

[Related: Self-Directed IRA Rules and Regulations]

If you’re an Equity Trust client and want more information about the self-directed investing process, log into myEQUITY and navigate to Resources>Education.