SECURE Act FAQs

The 2026 SECURE Act rules can affect how quickly retirement funds must be withdrawn after death. Reviewing primary and contingent beneficiary designations can help ensure that retirement accounts remain consistent with the rest of an estate plan. These SECURE Act … [Read more...] about Why Should Beneficiary Designations Be Reviewed?

Yes. A trust may be named as the beneficiary of a retirement account. However, special federal rules determine how the trust and its beneficiaries are treated for RMD purposes. Some qualifying trusts may allow certain trust beneficiaries to be treated as designated … [Read more...] about Can a Trust Be Named as an IRA Beneficiary?

Generally, an IRA passes to the beneficiary named on the account rather than according to instructions in a will. Major life events such as marriage, divorce, the death of a beneficiary, or the birth of a child may be reasons to review beneficiary forms. Our … [Read more...] about Does a Will Determine Who Receives an IRA?

A person who fails to take a required distribution may face an excise tax. Under current rules, the tax can generally equal 25% of the amount that should have been distributed, with a possible reduction to 10% when the shortfall is corrected within the applicable … [Read more...] about What Happens If an RMD Is Missed?

Roth IRAs do not require lifetime RMDs for the original owner. SECURE 2.0 also eliminated lifetime RMD requirements for designated Roth accounts in employer plans, such as Roth 401(k) and Roth 403(b) accounts. However, beneficiaries who inherit Roth accounts remain … [Read more...] about Do Roth Accounts Require RMDs?

In 2026, the general RMD starting age is 73 for many IRA owners. Traditional IRA, SEP IRA, and SIMPLE IRA owners generally must begin RMDs at the applicable age even if they continue working. For many employer-sponsored retirement plans, such as a 401(k), the plan … [Read more...] about What Is the RMD Age in 2026?