Designations are made by assigning a percentage of assets to the beneficiary or successor using a form that is entirely separate from your will or living trust. Designations come in several forms ...

A steady stream of court cases and IRS rulings shows that many people fail to perform this simple step ... or persons named on the beneficiary designation form on file with the account ...

Most consumers are familiar with the beneficiary designation form they complete when opening an IRA or 401(k). The form designates who receives the asset if the account owner dies. Yet ...

Many assets pass by beneficiary designation — which is the ability to fill out a form with the financial company holding the asset and name who will inherit the asset upon your death.

such as the beneficiary designation form and the plan's terms and conditions. “When the primary 401(k) holder passes away, the beneficiary should contact the plan administrator to begin ...