Some financial products like life insurance or tax-advantaged retirement accounts require you to name one or more beneficiaries. However, that's not the case with many assets. For instance, you can ...

One of the biggest myths and misconceptions of estate planning is that a will controls the disposition of all one’s assets at death. This is not the case. Failing to distinguish the difference between ...

When someone dies, even seemingly simple assets like bank accounts can become complicated fast. Whether those funds can get ...

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Proper account titling and beneficiary designations prevent estate plan failures and ensure smooth asset transfers for ...

Beneficiary designations are one of the major gaps in many retirement and estate plans. A recent court case shows the ...

Designations are made by assigning a percentage of assets to the beneficiary or successor using a form that is entirely separate from your will or living trust. Designations come in several forms ...

A 401(k) can be one of the largest assets in an estate, but its treatment after death is governed by specific rules.

Some assume that beneficiary designations and titling determine the ultimate disposition of interests on death. In the realm of divorce and separation, this may not always be true. The failure to ...

When you have any major family life event—marriage, divorce, birth, or death—you need to revisit and perhaps revise your beneficiary designations. William G. Lako, Jr., CFP®, is a principal at ...

William G. Lako, Jr., CFP®, is a principal at Henssler Financial and a co-host on “Money Talks”—your trusted resource for your money, your future, your life—airing Saturdays at 10 a.m. on AM 920 The ...