September 3, 2026 Who Would Receive Your Retirement Accounts Tomorrow?
You may know exactly who you want to receive your retirement accounts. But is that the person currently listed on your beneficiary forms?
It’s an important question and one that’s easy to overlook.
Many people assume their will determines where everything goes. But retirement accounts, life insurance policies, and certain investment accounts often pass directly to the beneficiaries listed on the account.
That’s why beneficiary designations are easy to set and easy to forget.
Over the years, we’ve seen situations where beneficiaries hadn’t been updated after a marriage, divorce, death in the family, or other major life change. Sometimes, the account owner had no idea the information was outdated.
The good news is that reviewing your beneficiaries is usually a simple step, and it can make a meaningful difference for the people you love.
As part of your overall retirement plan, it’s worth periodically reviewing:
- Retirement account beneficiaries, including 401(k)s and IRAs
- Life insurance beneficiaries
- Transfer-on-death and payable-on-death designations
- Estate planning documents and trusts
The goal is simple: make sure what’s on paper still reflects what you want today.
Retirement planning isn’t just about building and managing wealth. It’s also about making things easier for the people you care about.
Not sure when you last reviewed your beneficiaries? If it’s been a while, or if your family circumstances have changed, give our office a call at 801-465-6990. We can help you take a closer look and identify anything that may need your attention.
– Scott B. Wharton