Do your plan files include completed Beneficiary Designation Forms for each participant?
Have any of the plan participants had a life event that may cause their current beneficiary designation form to misrepresent the participant’s current intentions?
This might be a good time to take a look at your files and ensure they’re complete and up-to-date. In the absence of a Beneficiary Designation Form, the Plan’s governing document does provide for ordering rules with respect to the default beneficiaries. The Plan’s governing plan document will also generally designate a party to be held responsible for maintaining the beneficiary designation forms. While your recordkeeper/custodian may track such designations on behalf of the party responsible, in most cases this role falls to the Plan Administrator/Employer.
Blank Beneficiary Designation Forms:
Pinnacle Plan Design is a third-party administrator (TPA) for employer-sponsored qualified retirement plans. We specialize in retirement plan design, administration and actuarial consulting for 401(k)/profit-sharing plans, defined benefit plans, cash balance plans, and 403(b) plans. Pinnacle Plan Design proudly serves businesses nationwide.
Founded in January, 2001 by Kevin J. Donovan, EA, FSEA, FCA Pinnacle Plan Design is a nationally recognized leader in the design and administration of qualified retirement plans. Pinnacle Plan Design is dedicated exclusively to serving closely held businesses. We provide retirement plan consulting and design, actuarial services and administrative services. Our team of actuaries and credentialed retirement plan experts are uniquely qualified to help you successfully navigate complex federal regulations and obtain maximum benefits for you and your stakeholders.