WHO’S YOUR BENEFICIARY? Beneficiaries are the people who will inherit your assets –savings and investment accounts, life insurance policies, homes, cars, and other possessions. In general, there are two ways to name beneficiaries. You can:
- Designate a beneficiary on an account. For example, when you signed up for a retirement plan at work, you were probably asked to name a primary (and, sometimes, a secondary) beneficiary for the account. If you have life insurance or a health savings plan at work, you probably named beneficiaries for these accounts, too.
- Name an heir in your will. As part of the estate planning process, people write wills that indicate who should inherit various assets.
What many people don’t understand is that designated beneficiaries trump wills.
“Wills are malleable documents, subject to interpretation from probate court and contestable by family members demonstrating an interest in your estate (even if you don’t list them in your will).
Conversely, your contract with a financial institution creates an unimpeachable beneficiary designation. The financial company and relevant laws ensure your beneficiary will receive payment, even if other family members try to claim the benefit,” reported Ashley Kilroy of SmartAsset.
If you’re itching to go online and see who you named as the beneficiaries for various accounts, you should. It’s important to review your financial accounts – life insurance policies, retirement plan accounts, health savings accounts, and investment and bank accounts – and confirm that the correct beneficiary is named.
The good news is that checking designated beneficiaries is easier than it used to be. Just log in to your account. If your designation is outdated, you may be able to update the information by completing a beneficiary change form. If you have any questions, get in touch. We’re happy to help.
Securities offered through Triad Advisors, LLC, Member FINRA/SIPC
Investment Advisory Services offered through AMJ Financial Wealth Management LLC
AMJ Financial Wealth Management LLC is not affiliated with Triad Advisors LLC