Don’t Let Old Beneficiaries Derail Your Plan (A 10-Minute Check)

There’s one part of your financial plan that’s easy to overlook…

…and it has the power to override everything else.

Your beneficiary designations.

Not your will.
Not your trust.

👉 Your beneficiary forms.

And in many cases, they haven’t been reviewed in years.

Why This Matters More Than Most People Realize

Accounts like:

• IRAs and Roth IRAs

• 401(k)s and pensions

• Life insurance policies

• Annuities

• Bank accounts with POD/TOD designations

All pass based on the beneficiary form on file.

Not what your will says.

So if those forms are outdated—or incomplete—your plan may not work the way you intended.

The Good News: This Doesn’t Take Long

You don’t need a full estate overhaul to get clarity.

In most cases, you can do a quick review in about 10 minutes.

Here’s what to look for.

What to Check on Each Account

As you review each account, confirm:

• Primary beneficiary is listed

• Contingent beneficiary is listed

• Percentages are correct

• Names are accurate and up to date

• Trust names (if used) match current documents

• The last time this was updated

Life Changes That Should Trigger an Update

If any of these have happened, it’s worth a second look:

• Marriage or divorce

• Births or adoptions

• A death in the family

• A new or updated trust

• Rolling over or moving accounts

👉 One important note: beneficiary forms don’t always follow accounts when they move.

Common Issues We See

A few things come up more often than you’d think:

• No contingent beneficiary listed

• An ex-spouse still named

• “Estate” listed unintentionally

• Minor children named directly

• Trusts that haven’t been updated

These are all fixable—but easy to miss if you’re not looking.

Want a Second Set of Eyes?

If you’d rather not sort through it alone, we can help.

We’ll review your accounts together and make sure everything is aligned with your intentions.