Patricio Nahuelhual / Getty Images If you're signing up for a life insurance policy or have an account with a financial institution, there's a chance you'll name someone as a beneficiary without ...

CD account beneficiary rules can differ a bit based ... Also, "some designations can be changed, but others might be irrevocable, meaning they can't be changed," says Stivers.

Accounts with contractual beneficiary designations are not governed ... Prior employer 401(k) accounts are sometimes “orphaned,” meaning that they remain with the old employer and aren ...