Problems with inherited IRA

Mother died 10-13-2007, leaving an Annuity Nationwide IRA to three children.

Last year, before death, Nationwide told me they’d handle turning them into Stretch/Beneficiary/inherited IRAs after death.

Now they are insisting they not only won’t retitle as Inherited, they will only provide a lump sum distribution or annuitization options.

All three children have Inherited IRAs established at M&T Bank (who quickly and painlessly re-titled Mother’s IRA in about a month). M&T Bank attempted to work out a “trustee to trustee” transfer, but hit a brick wall.

Now, another advisor suggests “trustee to trustee” is not exactly correct. He suggested sending:

1) Letter of instruction to Natiowide telling them to transfer the respective amounts to these three M&T Inherited IRAs

2) M&T paperwork to accept the funds

3) Death Cert of course.

My plan is to contact Nationwide and ask for their own form for #1 – if they don’t have one, tell them our own is coming. Send in three each of #1 and #2, one for each child/account, and a cover letter.

Suggestions?

Thanks,

John Sevick



I would have the benes open new “shell” inherited IRAs, and have the custodian request the trustee-to-trustee transfer from NW. They do this all the time. They may not have wanted the money to go into existing funded inherited IRAs, since they might question whether it was a legitimate consolidation. The inherited IRAs could then be combined if they qualify.



…and if they are still insistent that they cannot accommodate the transfer, ask them to point to the section of the IRA agreement that states that transfers are not permitted for beneficiaries .



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