PODCASTEpisode 29 – Retirement Accounts After Death: The Basics & SECURE Act 1.0 (Part 1)
Retirement accounts are often among the largest assets people accumulate during their lifetime—but how they pass at death is governed by very different rules than the rest of your estate.
In Part 1 of this two-part series, Dave Shaffer and Morgan Napierski explore the nuances of retirement accounts after death. Unlike most assets, IRAs, 401(k)s, and 403(b)s don't pass through your will—they're controlled by beneficiary designation forms filed directly with the financial institution. While this can mean faster transfers, more privacy, and lower administration costs, it also creates risks when forms aren't filled out properly or kept up to date as life changes.
Dave and Morgan walk through key considerations for naming beneficiaries and they also break down the SECURE Act 1.0. The episode wraps up with a Jeopardy-style "Show and Tell" segment featuring characters like "Joyful Jerry" and "Restless Reggie" to test understanding of when the SECURE Act applies and which rules govern in different scenarios.