The Top 7 Questions for an Effective Beneficiary Audit

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3 Tips for Avoiding Disastrous Trust Beneficiaries for IRAs

Naming a trust as beneficiary can be compelling for clients who want to control how their heirs use the assets. However, trusts can be limiting—especially as circumstances change. These three tips can help clients determine if a trust is the right solution for their estate-planning needs.

Help Beneficiaries Avoid RMD Penalties

Tapping into an inherited IRA means clients must navigate a confusing set of rules and regulations. Help them avoid substantial penalties by guiding them through the distribution process.

The Problem With Naming a Trust as the Beneficiary of an Annuity

An annuity with a trust as beneficiary must pay out according to the five-year rule—often with tax consequences due to compressed trust tax brackets. If control is the intent, a trust may be necessary, but a restricted payout option could be an appealing alternative in some situations.

Avoiding Two of the Worst Moves for Inherited IRAs

The Supreme Court recently ruled that inherited IRAs aren't eligible for creditor protection in a bankruptcy. But an even quicker way to lose the assets is to ignore the distribution rules specific to beneficiaries. These two cases reveal how easy it is to void the stretch.