Banks and other financial institutions don’t automatically ask account holders to designate a beneficiary, so it can be easy to forget or postpone adding a beneficiary until it’s more convenient. But ...

Naming a bank account beneficiary ensures your money goes straight to your loved ones without getting tied up in costly, time-consuming probate. Most banks let you do this through a “Payable on Death” ...

A beneficiary is someone who receives a financial asset that was once owned by someone else. Choosing beneficiaries helps ...

An irrevocable beneficiary has a guaranteed right to receive the death benefit from your life insurance policy, and their consent is required for any changes that affect their rights. Naming minor ...

Dear Liz: In response to a reader who asked about creating a will, you suggested options for low-cost online resources. That is great! But, I would encourage you to remind readers to designate ...

The election by the spouse beneficiary of an IRA will affect the rate at which distributions must be taken and the income tax owed. And with the new restrictions explained under the proposed required ...

Naming your trust as the beneficiary of your IRA could have terrible tax consequences. This single fact does not mean you should never name a trust as the beneficiary of your IRA or other retirement ...