Are your beneficiary designations putting your estate at risk without your knowledge? In this episode, certified retirement counselor Mark Struthers sits down with estate planning attorney Jennifer Spalding to identify the hidden risks of beneficiary designations.
Listen in to learn the difference between per stirpes and per capita, how probate works, and why healthcare directives matter. You’ll discover what you can do today to protect your legacy and your loved ones from costly surprises.
What You’ll Learn:
- What beneficiary designations are and why they’re essential to your estate plan.
- The key differences between per stirpes and per capita—and how each affects your heirs.
- How improper beneficiary forms can trigger probate, even if you have a will or trust.
- Why estate planning varies across custodians and states—and what to watch out for.
- The importance of aligning all legal documents, account titles, and designations.
- How healthcare directives fit into a comprehensive estate and legacy plan.
Ideas Worth Sharing:
- “Estate planning is not cookie-cutter, one-size-fits-all.” – Jennifer Spalding
- “By making sure that your beneficiary designations are updated and current and reflective of your wishes, that’s how you avoid probate.” – Jennifer Spalding
- “Beneficiary designations—it’s so important. It’s critical because it ties into your overall estate plan and what you end up with as far as probate versus non-probate type assets.” – Jennifer Spalding
Resources:
- Special Offer – If you mention the podcast when calling Spalding Law Office and schedule a Life and Legacy Planning Session as a listener of The Healthy & Wealthy Retirement podcast, you’ll get a special discount of $250 off your estate planning. (Plus, if you complete the questionnaire ahead of time, Spalding Law Office will also waive the $750.00 session fee for that meeting.)
- Connect with Jennifer: Website | Facebook | LinkedIn | Email | Phone: (952) 486-8855
- Check for unclaimed property in Minnesota: MN Unclaimed Property
- Work with Mark Struthers
- Subscribe to our Healthy & Wealthy newsletter to get a Beneficiary Checklist: Subscribe here
Jennifer Spalding
Jennifer was born and raised in Minnesota. She attended the University of St. Thomas where she majored in Political Science. Following college, she attended William Mitchell College of Law. Jennifer is admitted to the State of Minnesota, the United States District Court for the State of Minnesota, and the United States Supreme Court. Jennifer is a member of the Minnesota State Bar Association. Jenny was a prosecutor for the city of Eden Prairie prior to moving into Estate Planning. She is currently on the Board of Directors for the Southwest Metro Chamber of Commerce and on the Senior Advisory Committee for the City of Victoria.
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Disclosure:
Investment advisory services are offered through Sona Financial LLC (DBA Sona Wealth Advisors, Sona Wealth, Sona Wealth Management), an investment adviser registered in the state of MN. Sona Financial only offers investment advisory services where it is appropriately registered or exempt from registration and only after clients have entered into an investment advisory agreement confirming the terms of engagement and have been provided a copy of the firm’s ADV Part 2A brochure and document.
This video or article is for educational purposes only and is not exhaustive. Nothing discussed during this show/episode should be viewed as investment advice. Diversification and/or any strategy that may be discussed does not guarantee against investment losses but is intended to help manage risk and return. If applicable, historical discussions and/or opinions are not predictive of future events. The content is presented in good faith and has been drawn from sources believed to be reliable. The content is not intended to be legal, tax, or financial advice. Please consult a legal, tax, or financial professional for information specific to your individual situation.
This content has not been reviewed by FINRA.