Using Trusts as Beneficiaries of IRAs

As more wealth is accumulated in retirement accounts, properly planning for the ultimate distribution of these assets is an important aspect of estate planning. Retirement accounts are unique assets, governed by complex rules, and the intersection of tax and estate planning with retirement accounts requires special planning considerations. Owners of retirement accounts need to consider the implications of naming individuals or a trust as beneficiaries, and what choice best fulfills their tax and estate planning objectives. Planners need to understand the special attributes of retirement accounts and how best to guide their clients in planning for them.

Required minimum distributions. Designated beneficiaries. Conduit and accumulation trusts. Stretch IRAs. Inherited IRAs. Learn the special language and rules associated with retirement accounts and estate planning. We focus specifically on Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) and discuss how a trust can be an IRA beneficiary, the types of trusts that might work for your clients, federal and state income and estate tax implications of naming a trust as IRA beneficiary, long term concerns of using a trust as beneficiary, how to fix broken trusts, and general pitfalls to avoid in making decisions about these issues.