When I was a little kid, I remember walking past a group of puppies outside a movie theater. There was a sign that said if they weren’t adopted that night, they’d be gone in the morning. And I knew what that meant.

Death Readiness Dispatch

March 25, 2026

Hi there,

 

When I was a little kid, I remember walking past a group of puppies outside a movie theater. There was a sign that said if they weren’t adopted that night, they’d be gone in the morning. And I knew what that meant.

 

On the way home, I cried in the backseat. My mom told me she would call the theater when we got home to check on them. She picked up the phone, had a full conversation, and then told me: “They were all adopted.” And I believed her.

 

Looking back, I’m certain my mom picked up the phone that night for a one-sided conversation. She wanted to protect me. As I’ve grown, so has my skepticism. And in estate planning, that can be really important.

This week’s Tuesday Triage question came from a listener who asked:
“What happens if I don’t name a beneficiary on my retirement account?” Most people (and even some professionals) will tell you that if a retirement account doesn’t have a beneficiary, “It just goes to the estate.”

But that’s not always true. This week, I walk through a real client situation involving a $500,000 IRA.

 

The financial advisor confidently told her that because there was no beneficiary, the account would pass through her husband’s probate estate. But I was skeptical, so I pushed back. I asked to see the plan agreement.

 

Turns out, my client was entitled to the full $500,000. Retirement accounts don’t follow assumptions. They follow the fine print of the plan agreement. And most people, including professionals, never read it.

The second edition of The Death Readiness Playbook is officially at the printer and will ship in early April.

 

And if you’re an estate planning attorney, wealth advisor, funeral home director, or a related professional, I’ve developed a co-branded option just for you! It’s The Death Readiness Playbook with your branding that you can offer to your clients.

It’s not exactly a studio production—just me at my desk, in a Death Readiness hoodie, occasionally forgetting to turn on the ring light.

But if you like captions or prefer to follow along visually, it’s there for you.

Thanks for being here.

PS: Sometimes one small question can open the door to what comes next. Send it in for Tuesday Triage.