If you have a traditional IRA or participate in an employer-sponsored retirement plan such as a 401(k) plan, you are generally required to complete a beneficiary designation form with the IRA custodian or plan administrator. As you may know, the beneficiary or beneficiaries you name (you can generally name more than one) will receive the remaining funds in your IRA or plan account after you die. What you may not realize is that your choice of beneficiary may have implications in other important areas, including: