Investing at Age 77
Beneficiary designations on IRAs, 401(k)s, life insurance, and annuities transfer assets directly at death and override whatever your will says. Review all designations now. Common problems include naming a deceased person, an ex-spouse, your estate (which subjects assets to probate), or forgetting to add contingent beneficiaries. Confirm that primary and contingent beneficiary names and percentages are current across all accounts.