If the company you selected to manage your IRA or other retirement account is sold or merges with another company, consider submitting a fresh beneficiary designation form. Today I had yet another scenario where the IRA custodian could not locate the beneficiary form post-merger and it is going to make a difference.When completing the form, in addition to the primary … [Read more...] about Confirm Your Retirement Account Beneficiaries
Beneficiaries
Preparing For And Getting Through Divorce
If divorce is something you are thinking about, are in the midst of, or have gone through, Daily Finance has an article on financial, tax, and legal related points to consider.The author has prepared a thorough list of 22 things to consider in moving from married to divorced.I am in strong agreement with several of his points. Time spent going through his list would be … [Read more...] about Preparing For And Getting Through Divorce
Digital Property & How to Get Rid of It
I’ve written lately about the importance of planning for your digital property in case of your incapacity or death. I’ve also encouraged you to make an inventory of digital property so the person caring for you or managing your estate knows what you have, where it is, and how to access it.Now my digital housekeeping moves on to clearing out things. If you have accounts and … [Read more...] about Digital Property & How to Get Rid of It
US Supreme Court: Beneficiary Designations Matter
Today the US Supreme Court ruled that when federal employees designate beneficiaries on their federal life insurance that the Virginia General Assembly cannot override it. See Hillman v. Maretta.In 1996 Mr. Hillman, a federal employee, submitted a beneficiary designation form for his federal life insurance that named his then wife Judy Maretta. They divorced two years later. … [Read more...] about US Supreme Court: Beneficiary Designations Matter
New Year, Fresh Start
The beginning of a new year is a time when many of us make a fresh start. As you start to pull things together for your tax return preparation, it is a good time to look at your financial record keeping. Were you organized last year in ways that made things simpler for you? If your 2012 system was piles of receipts here and there, maybe your 2013 system can be folders for … [Read more...] about New Year, Fresh Start