A variety of financial accounts, including retirement plans and life insurance, allow individuals to designate beneficiaries. Whoever is named on a beneficiary designation form will receive those ...

Most individuals own assets that will pass upon the death of that individual pursuant to a beneficiary designation. In fact, in many instances, these types of assets make up a large portion of an ...

When it comes to your estate plan, ensuring appropriate beneficiary designations is just as important, if not more important, than your will. When you start a job, open a retirement account, or take ...

Benefit administrators, 401(k) vendors, recordkeepers and benefits professionals regularly recommend that participants in qualified retirement plans periodically review and update their beneficiary ...

In the area of employee benefits, we have learned that nothing is simple. Even beneficiary designation forms can create significant issues. Employee benefit administrators, 401(k) vendors, ...

We pay good money to estate-planning attorneys to draft trusts and wills. We deliberate over which loved ones are best suited to be guardians for minor children in case of catastrophe. We have ...

Clarity is paramount if you want your wishes to be fulfilled Investopedia contributors come from a range of backgrounds, and over 25 years there have been thousands of expert writers and editors who ...

Changing the beneficiary of a 401(k) plan can involve specific requirements, particularly when it comes to spousal consent. In many cases, to protect your spouse's financial interests, you need ...

Choosing a primary beneficiary - and contingent beneficiaries - is the only way to ensure that your funds are allocated according to your wishes. The per capita designation is usually the default ...