Check Beneficiaries–One resolution you can keep

Liz Weston, from NerdWallet, reminds us to check our beneficiaries as part of our new year’s resolutions.  She says, “You typically have to name beneficiaries when you open retirement accounts and buy life insurance, but you also may have named them for bank or other financial accounts.  Some states allow you to designate ‘transfer on death’ beneficiaries for vehicles and even real estate.  The people you name in most cases will get the money, even if you’ve since divorced or named somebody else in your will or living trust.  You can check and change many financial beneficiary designations online.  Self-help legal site Nolo has information about naming, changing and revoking beneficiaries for cars and homes.”

Liz Weston is a NerdWallet Columnist whose goal is to help you get smarter about money so you can get on with your life. She’s the author of five books about money, including the best-selling Your Credit Score.