How a Beneficiary Designation Beats a Will Every Time

Lucas and Luna discuss why a properly filled-out beneficiary designation on your 401(k) and IRA can override your will entirely. They walk through the 2017 Supreme Court case Howell v. Howell, where a divorce decree said one thing but a beneficiary form said another, and the form won. They explain why beneficiary designations avoid probate, how to handle contingent beneficiaries, and what happens if you name a minor or have a per stirpes clause. Luna shares a stat: 78 percent of Americans have not reviewed their beneficiary designations in the last three years. Lucas offers a practical checklist for updating forms after major life events. The episode ends with a short, natural donation appeal tied to the value of keeping listeners informed about these often-overlooked details. #BeneficiaryDesignation #ProbateAvoidance #EstatePlanning #HowellVHowell #RetirementAccounts #FinancialLiteracy #EstateTax #PerStirpes #ContingentBeneficiary #WillVsBeneficiary #StretchIRA #SECUREAct #DivorceAndEstate #EstateAttorneys #FamilyWealth #Finance #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo