Making Smart IRA Beneficiary Designations

View article In 2010 a hot topic in the field of IRAs and retirement planning was the conversion of traditional IRAs into Roth IRAs. While the conversion has proven to be financially advantageous in some cases, the heightened discussion surrounding IRAs has reminded us of the importance of discussing appropriate beneficiary designations for the purposes of creating an integrated estate plan. It cannot be emphasized enough that an IRA passes by beneficiary designation and not by the provisions of one’s Will. Therefore, separate attention should be given to IRAs, and other non-probate assets, to ensure that they pass to one’s desired beneficiaries.