It's yet another form in that seemingly endless pile of paperwork needed to complete the application. It's usually only one page and while most clients don't seem to think about it too much, others ...

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 ...

IF YOU HAVE an individual retirement account, do you recall filling out a beneficiary designation form? That’s the document that allows you to direct the IRA custodian to transfer your IRA to people ...

Everyone makes mistakes, including advisers. But there’s one blunder every planner should take extra precautions to avoid: being careless about ensuring that their clients’ IRA beneficiary forms are ...

Year-end means required minimum distribution season, since that’s typically when clients take RMDs. But year-end is also when lots of costly RMD mistakes happen — costly because of the 50% penalty on ...

The so called “stretch IRA” allows designated beneficiaries to extend required minimum distributions and the tax deferral over their life expectancy based on their age in the year after death.

The RMD (required minimum distribution) rules for IRA and plan beneficiaries have gone through so many recent changes that it’s not surprising that advisors have lots of questions on which RMD rules ...

David F. Powell, professor, Florida State University School of Law, and Tye J. Klooster attorney, Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP, Chicago These are the sample trust form provisions referenced in the ...