Questions answered by Marc Hebert, president of The Harbor Group Inc., a registered investment adviser. Ask A Question Do you know where the beneficiary forms are to your individual retirement ...

When you think of estate planning, most people think about getting their wills and trusts in order. But for many investors, their IRA or 401(k) beneficiary designation form will control the ...

The death of a loved one brings stress, despair and grief. It also often precipitates disagreements regarding the intended beneficiary of an annuity, life insurance policy or other account of the ...

Do you know what the most important part of your retirement account is? The answer might surprise you! If you were asked today to pull out the beneficiary form for each of your financial accounts, ...

An employer’s retirement plan documents did not incorporate beneficiary designation forms in its language or appendices, so the forms did not govern the award of benefits, a court ruled. A federal ...

Are banks legally required to give account holders written statements of their beneficiaries upon request? I want to make it easier for my heirs, but I'm having trouble getting this information in ...

We are receiving more calls about inherited IRAs from advisors than ever before. The first thing we ask is: Where’s the beneficiary form? … and then uh oh ... silence! Checking the beneficiary form is ...

Stepchildren might not have the same legal standing as biological children if beneficiary forms don't make that clear. In a recent case, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that a plan ...

Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Bob Carlson researches all facets of retirement finances. A beneficiary check up is an important part of your regular financial ...

Before you dash off your spouse's name, or put Junior's Social Security number on the dotted line, make sure you're not making any of these mistakes. Naming beneficiaries should be the easiest task ...

A. Two words come to mind: beneficiary forms. Whether you remember or not, you’ve probably filled out and signed several beneficiary forms. Life insurance policies have them. Credit union accounts ...