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

Key Points ・Beneficiary designations on retirement accounts, life insurance, and bank accounts are legally binding contracts ...

Stepchildren might not have the same legal standing as biological children if beneficiary forms don't make that clear. In a recent case, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that a plan ...

You might not be able to spend all the money in your 401(k) plan before you die. If that happens, your retirement savings will pass to the person you name as the beneficiary of the account. The ...

Beneficiary designations on retirement accounts override your will when it's time to determine who inherits your funds. Many people forget to update beneficiary forms, which leads to unintended ...

If you ask most people what they want out of an estate plan, the answer is usually: “Make the process easy on my family and ...

Questions answered by Marc Hebert, president of The Harbor Group Inc., a registered investment adviser. Ask A Question Do you know where the beneficiary forms are to your individual retirement ...

You might not be able to spend all the money in your 401(k) plan before you die. If that happens, your retirement savings will pass to the person you name as the beneficiary of the account. The ...

Be sure to keep your beneficiary designations updated. The dramatic reading of the will in a wood-paneled office has long been a staple of television dramas. Who's in the will (and who isn't) is a ...