Key Takeaways Your 401(k) passes to the person you name on your beneficiary form—not through your will.Spouses and ...

If you’ve just inherited a windfall from a deceased relative’s trust, you’re likely wondering, “How does a beneficiary get ...

Estate planning is a broad term that describes the process of directing what happens to you assets upon your death.

Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Bob Carlson researches all facets of retirement finances. Beneficiary designations are one of the major gaps in many retirement ...

Updating beneficiaries as you prepare your annual tax return is a natural way to get two important jobs done at the same time ...

Beneficiary designations legally override wills and are crucial for estate planning. Regularly review, update, and align designations with current life stages and estate plans. Contracts are rarely ...

If an IRA is inherited through an estate, the distribution rules for the estate apply, even if the IRA is later transferred to a person. Distribution rules depend on whether the IRA owner died before ...

The rules largely depend on whether you're the surviving spouse.

A $400,000 401(k) does not follow the will. It follows the beneficiary form. For a surprising number of account holders, ...

Does a beneficiary to an estate have to sign a receipt before receiving their share of cash and in-kind stocks? I asked for a clarifying change to the receipt sent by the law firm. That was six months ...

You can play a personal role in advancing liberty, fairness, and equality by providing now for a future gift through your retirement account. For many people, this is the easiest and most effective ...