Jul 20, 2018 Naming Your Beneficiaries

Naming your Beneficiaries: Avoid the Pitfalls

We get a lot of questions from people on naming beneficiaries to their accounts.  While the paperwork is relatively straightforward, it is important to pay attention to a few key areas to avoid some common mistakes.

Updating your will is not enough

Your beneficiary designations trump your will. Even if your will is more up to date and accurately reflects your wishes, your assets will go to your named beneficiary in the event of your death. This makes reviewing your designations important to make sure they align with your wishes. This is especially relevant in the event of a major change in your family circumstance (death, birth, divorce, etc).

Pro-Rata vs Per-Stirpes

Per stirpes is a Latin phrase that means “by branch” whereas pro rata means “in proportion”. The differences are most clear in an example. Say you have two beneficiaries, Lewis and Clark, each set to receive 50% of your assets. Lewis has 2 daughters while Clark has 2 sons. If you choose pro rata and Lewis passes away before you, Clark will receive 100% and Lewis’s 2 daughters will receive nothing. However, if you choose pro stirpes, Clark will receive 50% while Lewis’s 2 daughters will receive 25% each.
Here is a diagram outlining what happens after Lewis passes under each scenario. Remember, both Lewis and Clark were both set to receive 50% initially.

No Contingent Beneficiaries

If you don’t have contingent beneficiaries and your primary beneficiary passes away before you, your assets will go to your estate.  There are cases when this is ideal, but often, a backup beneficiary is an efficient way to fulfill your wishes.

Naming Minors as Beneficiaries

When a minor inherits assets, they are placed into the hands of a trustee (or court appointed trustee) until the age of majority.  In Washington, this means receiving all the resources at the age of 18.  Many young adults may not be ready to inherit a large chunk of money they received as a result of their parents dying.  Some parents elect to create a testamentary trust to hold the funds for the beneficiary until certain ages or milestones are met.  This lets the resources take care of the minor and transfer title when they will hopefully be better equipped to manage the funds.

IMPORTANT DISCLOSURES
Leonard Rickey Investment Advisors, PLLC (“LRIA”), is an SEC registered investment adviser located in the State of Washington. Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training. For information pertaining to the registration status of LRIA, please contact LRIA or refer to the Investment Adviser Public Disclosure website (www.adviserinfo.sec.gov). LRIA is  not a law firm  or accounting firm. Infomration is for  educational purposes  only. Please consult  your advisor  before implementing any tax or legal strategy.
This is provided for general information only and contains information that is not suitable for everyone. As such, nothing herein should be construed as the provision of specific investment advice or recommendations for any individual. This contains information derived from third party sources. Although we believe these third-party sources to be reliable, we make no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information prepared by any unaffiliated third party incorporated herein and take no responsibility therefore.
For additional information about LRIA, including fees and services, please contact us for our Form ADV disclosure brochure using our contact information herein. Please read the disclosure brochure carefully before you invest or send money.

Company News

Welcome, Liz Stokes!

Employee Spotlight – Jacqueline Cremen

Shreds and Meds Day – October 28th at The Valley Mall

Employee Spotlight: Chelsie Smith

Employee Spotlight: Dirk Bernd

Market Commentary

2024 1st Quarter Investment Commentary

2023 4th Quarter Investment Commentary

2023 3rd Quarter Investment Commentary

2023 2nd Quarter Investment Commentary

Debt Ceiling: Should Investors Worry?

Retirement Planning

2024 Key Financial Changes

Social Security Benefit Increase of 3.2% for 2024

The 4 Changes from SECURE Act 2.0 You Should Know for 2023

Medicare Open Enrollment for 2023 Begins October 15th

Social Security Benefit Increase of 8.7% for 2023

Tax Planning

2024 Key Financial Changes

2023 1099 Release Information

2023 Year-End Tax Planning

When do I start my Required Minimum Distribution?

UPDATE: Washington State Long Term Care Payroll Tax

Cyber Security

Red Flags When Transferring Money

Cybersecurity 101 – 2022 Update

Cybersecurity 101

New Changes to Web-Portal Password Requirements

Equifax Data Breach Update: Make a claim today

Important Disclosures

Leonard Rickey Investment Advisors, PLLC (“LRIA”), is an SEC registered investment adviser located in the State of Washington. Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training. For information pertaining to the registration status of LRIA, please contact LRIA or refer to the Investment Adviser Public Disclosure website (www.adviserinfo.sec.gov).

This is provided for general information only and contains information that is not suitable for everyone. As such, nothing herein should be construed as the provision of specific investment advice or recommendations for any individual. To determine which investments may be appropriate for you, consult your financial advisor prior to investing. There is no guarantee that the views and opinions expressed herein will come to pass. This newsletter contains information derived from third party sources. Although we believe these third-party sources to be reliable, we make no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information prepared by any unaffiliated third party incorporated herein and take no responsibility therefore.

Any projections, forecasts and estimates, including without limitation any statement using “expect” or “believe” or any variation of either term or a similar term, contained here are forward-looking statements and are based upon certain current assumptions, beliefs and expectations that LRIA considers reasonable or that the applicable third parties have identified as such. Forward-looking statements are necessarily speculative in nature, and it can be expected that some or all of the assumptions or beliefs underlying the forward-looking statements will not materialize or will vary significantly from actual results or outcomes. Some important factors that could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those in any forward-looking statements include, among others, changes in interest rates and general economic conditions in the U.S. and globally, changes in the liquidity available in the market, change and volatility in the value of the U.S. dollar, market volatility and distressed credit markets, and other market, financial or legal uncertainties. Consequently, the inclusion of forward-looking statements herein should not be regarded as a representation by LRIA or any other person or entity of the outcomes or results that will be achieved by following any recommendations contained herein. While the forward-looking statements here reflect estimates, expectations and beliefs, they are not guarantees of future performance or outcomes. LRIA has no obligation to update or otherwise revise any forward-looking statements, including any revisions to reflect changes in economic conditions or other circumstances arising after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of events (whether anticipated or unanticipated), even if the underlying assumptions do not come to fruition. Opinions expressed herein are subject to change without notice and do not necessarily take into account the particular investment objectives, financial situations, or particular needs of all investors.

For additional information about LRIA, including fees and services, please contact us for our Form ADV disclosure brochure using our contact information herein. Please read the disclosure brochure carefully before you invest or send money.