Estate Planning and Qualified Retirement Plan Assets

Beneficiary Designations 101

     There are two things you should never watch while they are being made: one is sausage and the other is tax law. The same can be said of most tax law changes. They often result in more complex rules and regulations, not to mention stiff penalties for non-compliance.
     That said, the IRS has simplified its regulations governing distributions from IRAs and other qualified retirement plans (QRPs) in recent years. In form, these final regs are intended to liberalize and lengthen payout options during the lifetimes of plan participants and, after their deaths, for their designated beneficiaries under such plans. In substance, however, there are many common pitfalls you need to avoid regarding the designation of beneficiaries for your QRP … or your retirement assets may either plunge into the tax abyss quicker than otherwise required, or even wind up with the wrong beneficiary.
     Disclaimer: This article is not an exhaustive treatise on this subject matter. Consider it a brief primer regarding the unique nature of QRPs and an advance warning to avoid two common pitfalls regarding their post-mortem transfer.

Learn more about choosing a beneficiary when it comes to your qualified retirement plan...

Pension Maximization

     That long-awaited day will soon be a reality. Yes, your retirement ship is almost ready to set sail. Before you climb aboard, however, there are a few crucial decisions to make regarding your pension, especially if you are married. To assist you in this process, we will consider your general options, propose a common win-win alternative and then temper that alternative solution with some due diligence.

Defined Benefit Plans: Your General Options

     If you have a defined benefit plan (i.e., a retirement plan through your employer that will pay a monthly income to you), then you will be asked how you want the payouts calculated. For example, do you want payouts to be calculated to last as long as you live (single life option) or until the later of your death or the death of your spouse (joint and survivor option)? This decision must be weighed very carefully.
     If you choose a single life option, then the monthly payout will be higher … but it will end upon your death. This could leave your surviving spouse without needed income. On the other hand, if you choose the joint and survivor option, then the monthly payout will be reduced to cover the actuarial risk of the payouts extending over an additional life. Nevertheless, with the joint and survivor option, if your spouse predeceases you, then you are stuck with the lower payout for the rest of your life.

Read on for the proper steps to take to maximize your pension payment...