News & Analysis as of

Retirement Plan Beneficiaries

Haynes Boone

Money (It’s What Everyone Wants)

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As an old song covered by the Beatles goes, “the best things in life are free, but you can’t keep em for the birds and bees, now give me money, that’s what I want.”...more

Proskauer - Employee Benefits & Executive...

IRS Clarifies that Failure to Cash Checks Does Not Affect Withholding or Reporting

Revenue Ruling 2025‑15 (available here) provides guidance on withholding and reporting obligations when a plan participant or beneficiary fails to cash a distribution check and a replacement check is issued. As discussed...more

Ary Rosenbaum - The Rosenbaum Law Firm P.C.

Soap Operas Are Great on TV, But Not in Your 401(k) Plan

Look, I love a good soap opera. I grew up on Dallas, and I still sneak in The Bold and the Beautiful when I can. There’s something about the betrayal, the big reveals, and the constant twists that makes it compelling. But you...more

Foley & Lardner LLP

Trump Accounts: The New Child Savings Account Established Under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act

Foley & Lardner LLP on

On July 4, 2025, President Trump signed into law the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBA). The OBBA established a new type of tax-advantaged savings account for minors, known as “Trump Accounts.” While the specific details of...more

Troutman Pepper Locke

Estate Planning in Uncertain Times

Troutman Pepper Locke on

"God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference."- The Serenity Prayer- The first 100 days of President Trump’s administration have been...more

Offit Kurman

Unintended Inheritance Happens More Than You Think: Ensuring Your Loved Ones Inherit as Intended

Offit Kurman on

Roughly two-thirds of Americans are estimated to die without executing a valid will. As a result, assets in their name will pass under the laws of intestacy of their home state. The laws of intestacy are essentially default...more

Verrill

Plan Sponsors: How much thought have you given to your defined contribution retirement plan’s default beneficiary hierarchy?

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Despite efforts by plan sponsors and third-party administrators/plan recordkeepers to communicate to defined contribution retirement plan participants the importance of designating a beneficiary to receive any remaining...more

Chambliss, Bahner & Stophel, P.C.

Passing Retirement Benefits to a Child With Special Needs

Under the SECURE Act, disabled beneficiaries can stretch out inherited retirement account distributions beyond 10 years, provided their life expectancy is longer than the default 10-year rule. Generally, an Applicable...more

Chambliss, Bahner & Stophel, P.C.

Planning with Intention: Charitable Giving Through Your IRA

“Nowhere is wisdom more necessary than in the guidance of charitable impulses. Meaning well is only half our duty; thinking right is the other, and equally important, half.” — Samuel Gridley Howe...more

Pillsbury - Propel

Preparing for the Unthinkable: Treatment of Compensation and Benefits on Death of an Employee

Pillsbury - Propel on

When an employee unexpectedly dies, companies often want to act quickly so as to minimize disruption to the deceased employee’s family. While that is an important goal, companies need to ensure that they follow federal and...more

Verrill

DOL Updates Model Annual Funding Notices for SECURE 2.0

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On April 3, 2025, the Department of Labor issued Field Assistance Bulletin No. 2025-02 (the FAB), providing initial guidance and updated models for defined benefit plan Annual Funding Notices that comply with the notice...more

Offit Kurman

Why You Need to Update Your Estate Planning After a Divorce

Offit Kurman on

Divorce is a major life change that affects far more than just your relationship status. One crucial—but often overlooked—aspect that needs immediate attention after a divorce is your estate plan. Failing to update your...more

Proskauer Rose LLP

Wealth Management Update - April 2025

Proskauer Rose LLP on

The April 2025 Section 7520 rate for use with estate planning techniques such as CRTs, CLTs, QPRTs and GRATs is 5.00%, which is 0.40% less than the March 2025 rate. The April applicable federal rate (“AFR”) for use with a...more

Alston & Bird

Department of Labor’s Temporary Policy Allows Voluntary Escheatment of Certain Retirement Benefits

Alston & Bird on

In this article, the authors delve into the Department of Labor’s temporary ERISA enforcement policy for unclaimed retirement benefit payments of $1,000 or less. The Department of Labor (DOL) has announced a temporary...more

Foley & Lardner LLP

Benefits Basics - When an Employee Dies: A Resource Guide for HR & Benefits Professionals

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As a member of your company’s human resources or employee benefits department, one of the most difficult calls you may receive is from a colleague or an employee’s family member notifying you of the death of an employee. This...more

Bowditch & Dewey

Do the Retirement Plan Provisions in Your Trust Still Align with Your Estate Planning Goals Following Updates to the SECURE Act?

Bowditch & Dewey on

Following the IRS’ finalization of the SECURE Act regulations on July 18, 2024, it is a good time to review the retirement benefit provisions of your trust to make sure they still align with your estate planning goals....more

Keating Muething & Klekamp PLL

Benefits Monthly Minute - February 2025

The February Monthly Minute highlights a new online ACA reporting alternative, the DOL’s temporary policy regarding escheatment of small retirement benefits owed to missing participants, and new guidance clarifying the gag...more

Keating Muething & Klekamp PLL

Benefits Monthly Minute - January 2025

The January Monthly Minute highlights a recent Texas court decision holding ESG investing violated ERISA and a new development in the J&J prescription drug case that found plaintiff lacked standing to sue, and also digs into...more

Offit Kurman

Equal Shares, Unequal Outcomes: Estate Planning Strategies for Parents and their Qualified Retirement Accounts

Offit Kurman on

Typically, a parent wishes to treat their children equally in their estate plan and presumes they will achieve this goal by dividing all their assets into equal shares upon their death. Accordingly, they will designate their...more

Bowditch & Dewey

IRS Issues Updates to Retirement Plan Rules under SECURE Act 2.0

Bowditch & Dewey on

On July 19, 2024, the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) issued final regulations (“2024 regulations”) regarding the SECURE Act of 2019 and the SECURE Act 2.0 of 2022, which apply to 401(a) plans, 401(k) plans, traditional and...more

Kohrman Jackson & Krantz LLP

Privacy Protection in Estate Planning: The ABCs of Maximizing Confidentiality

Is anything private anymore? We live in a digital age where information is quick and abundant. While this is helpful in many circumstances, it may seem most concerning when it comes to your estate plan. Your estate plan...more

Carlton Fields

IRS Clarifies Application of Required Minimum Distribution Rules to Inherited Retirement Accounts

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The Secure Act, passed in 2019 and updated in 2022, made significant changes to the required minimum distribution (RMD) rules applicable to qualified retirement plans, IRAs, 403(b) plans, and other eligible deferred...more

Farrell Fritz, P.C.

New Savings Opportunity – Converting a 529 Plan to Roth IRA

Farrell Fritz, P.C. on

Recent changes implemented by Secure Act 2.0 provide a powerful retirement opportunity. Starting in 2024, Congress changed the way that 529 accounts work....more

Husch Blackwell LLP

Planning for Retirement Benefits Post-Secure Act

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On July 18, 2024, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued final regulations updating the required minimum distribution (RMD) rules. The final regulations reflect changes made by the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement...more

Verrill

A Brief Guide to Qualified Disclaimers for Retirement Plan Administrators

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A “qualified disclaimer” is a tax-effective way to refuse a transfer of property that would otherwise occur on someone’s death. From time to time, retirement plan administrators may be contacted by a beneficiary who wants a...more

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