A beneficiary is someone who receives a financial asset that was once owned by someone else. Choosing beneficiaries helps ensure that your assets go to the right people once you pass on. It’s a good ...

Key Takeaways Your 401(k) passes to the person you name on a beneficiary form—not through your will.Spouses and non-spouses face different rules and tax implications when inheriting a ...

Beneficiaries receive assets without probate when named in trusts or insurance. Immediate designation of beneficiaries ensures asset transfer according to wishes. Types of beneficiaries vary, ...

A spouse beneficiary is the person who will inherit a 401(k) account if the account holder passes away. The rules for spouse beneficiaries determine how the account assets are distributed, which can ...

If your life insurance beneficiary dies before you, the payout may go to a contingent beneficiary or your estate, depending on how you set up the policy. You can choose how death benefits are ...

Making sure affairs are in order and checking in from time to time is key when it comes to protecting loved ones. Ensuring your beneficiary information is updated is one way to help your loved ones ...

Retirement accounts often represent a substantial portion of a client's estate, yet the beneficiary designation forms that control their distribution are too often treated as an afterthought. Estate ...

Julia Kagan is a financial/consumer journalist and former senior editor, personal finance, of Investopedia. Marguerita is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP), Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor ...

It’s my understanding that under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, if a 401(k) participant is married, their spouse is their automatic primary beneficiary. What happens if the participant ...

AMONG ENRON’S PROBLEMS WAS ITS USE of variable interest entities, which allowed it to leave significant amounts of debt off its balance sheet. In response to concern about this practice, FASB issued ...