• Beneficiaries: Review these annually to keep them up-to-date and accurate. Don’t rely on a beneficiary to be in a position to carry out your wishes other than to receive the account. If you’re dead-set on a stretch IRA, then leave the account to a trust. If you want your heir to have the option of stretching the IRA withdrawals, leave the account to him or her directly. Use per stirpes designation if you want proceeds to stay divided between siblings’ families, and don’t leave your retirement account to one child with instructions to divide the proceeds between the remaining siblings as he sees fit.

• Beneficiary payout options offered by the account trustee: There is a lot of paperwork when you designate specific payout options for a retirement account. Don’t forget to check, and annually review, to make sure the trustee will allow a stretched payout to the beneficiary.