Welcome back. It's Finance Friday, another special edition of Money Girl where I answer your

burning money questions. Today's topic comes from Srinivos, who says, Laura, I have been a

long time listener and love your podcast. I need a little help for my sister-in-law who recently got divorced.

But before their divorce order was finalized, her ex-spouse suddenly passed away.

She is the beneficiary of half of his 401k and their two adult children are the beneficiaries of the other half.

Will the three of them inherit it, or does the account have to go into his estate?

Serena Voss, thank you for the question and your kind words,

and I'm so sorry your sister-in-law and her family are going through this difficult time.

While thinking about your death isn't pleasant,

making the right plans is critical. This podcast will review what happens to your 401k or other

workplace retirement plan when you die. Understanding the rules is essential so that people you love

get the money you've worked so hard to save.

Welcome back, everyone. Thanks for joining me on episode 883. I'm Laura Adams, an award-winning

author, finance spokesperson, money speaker, founder of the money stack, a substack newsletter,

and hosts of Money Girl with over 43 million downloads. If you're getting

value from the free content we love creating, please subscribe, and we'd also love you to submit a

five-star rating or review. And if you have a question you want me to cover on a Finance Friday,

send it. You can leave it on our voicemail by calling 302-364-0308. You can also send me an

email and sign up for the free MoneyStack newsletter when you visit laura d adams.com.

All right, let's talk about what exactly a 401k beneficiary is.

When you enroll in a retirement account, you will always be prompted to name one or more beneficiaries on a designation form.

If you're married, the primary beneficiary is assumed to be your surviving spouse.

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