EST2605. Inherited IRA Beneficiaries After SECURE

Despite the fact that Americans hold nearly $50 trillion in retirement assets — and that those assets often make up a substantial portion of an individual’s net worth — IRAs and other retirement accounts continue to be overlooked or insufficiently addressed in many estate plans.

Left unaddressed, this planning gap can result in unnecessary taxation, the loss of valuable tax deferral, exposure of assets to creditors, and other harmful, wealth-sapping effects.

On the other hand, advisers who take proactive steps now to address the unique estate planning issues retirement accounts present can add significant value for clients and position themselves for the substantial transfer of retirement assets between generations in the coming years.

Learning Objectives:

• Recognize post-death payout rules and planning strategies beneficiaries use to maximize inherited retirement assets.
• Identify key rules that apply when naming a trust as the beneficiary of an IRA.
• Distinguish options available to a surviving spouse for handling inherited retirement assets.
• Recognize how state and federal laws interact to govern retirement account property rights.