Steps to make sure your life insurance pays out efficiently to the people you want to support ...

When Priscilla Presley challenged her late daughter’s will recently, it raised the prospect of a family rift and a messy legal battle over who would guide Elvis’ big estate. But legal experts say ...

If you’ve ever opened an IRA, CD or brokerage account — or bought an annuity, life insurance policy or shares of a mutual fund — you’ve been asked to name a beneficiary, or a person who will inherit ...

You might not have thought much about beneficiary designations — but they can play a big role in your estate planning. When you purchase insurance policies and open investment accounts, such as your ...

A beneficiary is a person or entity that you name to receive the proceeds of your financial assets when you die. A beneficiary can be a spouse, child, relative, friend, charity, trust or any other ...

You cannot name a legal minor as a beneficiary. This applies to almost all legal documents, most notably wills and life insurance policies. The significant exception to this rule is trusts. You can ...

A 401(k) can be one of the largest assets in an estate, but its treatment after death is governed by specific rules.

When planning your estate rarely will you experience difficulty naming your initial beneficiary or beneficiaries for your will, IRA’s or life insurance. This observation is almost certain when it ...

If charitable giving is part of your legacy plan, which assets you leave to charity can matter, especially if you have other beneficiaries. Many investors focus on the size of their charitable gifts ...

Readers of my column know I emphasize the importance of naming beneficiaries for every IRA account. Many ask under what circumstances they should consider naming a trust as an IRA beneficiary. In a ...