Author: AskMyFinance Editorial Team

Probate is the legal process through which a deceased person’s estate is administered under court supervision. The court validates the will (if there is one), appoints a personal representative or executor, pays debts, and distributes remaining assets to heirs. Probate can take months to years and typically costs between 3% and 7% of the estate’s value in legal and administrative fees — which is why many people try to structure their estates to avoid it.

When Probate Is Required

Probate is triggered when someone dies with assets that are titled only in their own name and lack a beneficiary designation or joint ownership arrangement. If you die with $200,000 in a bank account under your name alone and no payable-on-death designation, that account goes through probate before it can reach your heirs.

Assets that typically go through probate:

• Bank accounts and investment accounts with no beneficiary designation
• Real estate titled solely in the deceased’s name
• Personal property (cars, furniture, collections) of significant value
• Business interests without a succession plan

Assets That Bypass Probate

Many common assets pass directly to heirs without going through the court system:

• Accounts with beneficiary designations: retirement accounts (IRAs, 401(k)s), life insurance policies, annuities
• Payable-on-death (POD) bank accounts: the funds go directly to the named person
• Transfer-on-death (TOD) brokerage accounts: same concept
• Jointly owned property with right of survivorship: passes automatically to the surviving owner
• Assets held in a living trust: distributed according to the trust terms without court involvement

The Probate Process: Step by Step

1. Filing the will and petition. The executor files the will and a petition for probate with the probate court in the county where the deceased lived. If there is no will (dying “intestate”), the court appoints an administrator and distributes assets according to state law.
2. Notifying creditors and heirs. The court typically requires public notice of probate proceedings, giving creditors a window (usually 3–6 months) to make claims against the estate.
3. Inventory and appraisal. The executor catalogs and values all probate assets.
4. Paying debts and taxes. Valid creditor claims, final bills, and any estate taxes are paid from the estate before distributions to heirs.
5. Distributing remaining assets. Whatever is left is distributed according to the will, or under state intestacy laws if there is no will.
6. Closing the estate. The executor files a final accounting with the court, and the estate is formally closed.

How Long Does Probate Take?

Simple, uncontested estates with a clear will, cooperative heirs, and no creditor disputes can close in four to eight months in many states. Complex estates — those with business interests, real estate in multiple states, contested wills, or creditor disputes — can take two years or more. Every month the estate is open typically costs money in legal fees, accounting fees, and court costs.

Probate Costs

Costs vary significantly by state and estate complexity:

• Attorney fees: Many probate attorneys charge a percentage of the estate’s gross value (not net value — meaning they charge on assets before debts are paid). In California, statutory attorney fees are set by law and can run $13,000–$18,000 on a $500,000 estate.
• Executor compensation: Executors are also often entitled to a fee, which varies by state.
• Court filing fees: Typically a few hundred dollars.
• Appraisal and accounting fees: Variable depending on asset complexity.

Simplified Probate and Small Estate Procedures

Most states have streamlined procedures for small estates that avoid full probate. The threshold varies by state — it might be $25,000 or $200,000 depending on where you live. Small estate affidavits, summary administration, or other simplified procedures can transfer assets quickly without a full court process. Check your state’s threshold and procedures if the estate is modest.

How to Avoid Probate

The most common probate avoidance strategies:

• Name beneficiaries on all accounts. Add POD designations to bank accounts and TOD to brokerage accounts. Name beneficiaries on all retirement and insurance accounts.
• Hold property jointly with right of survivorship. Property passes automatically at death without probate.
• Create a revocable living trust. Transfer titled assets into the trust. The trust bypasses probate entirely and distributes assets per your instructions without court involvement.
• Use joint tenancy or community property with right of survivorship (for real estate). Varies by state.

Should You Try to Avoid Probate?

Not always. In some states, probate is relatively fast and inexpensive — the benefits of avoiding it may not justify the cost and complexity of creating a trust. In other states (California, Florida, New York), the process is slow and expensive enough that trust-based planning makes strong financial sense. Consider your state’s laws, the size and complexity of your estate, and your privacy preferences — probate records are public.

Bottom Line

Probate is a necessary legal process for assets that are not structured to pass directly to heirs, but it is often costly and slow. Understanding which assets are subject to probate — and taking steps to structure your accounts and property to bypass it — can save your heirs significant time and money. A revocable living trust combined with beneficiary designations on all accounts covers most estates effectively.

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A 457(b) plan is a type of tax-advantaged retirement savings account available to employees of state and local governments and certain nonprofit organizations. It works similarly to a 401(k) in that contributions reduce your taxable income, the money grows tax-deferred, and withdrawals in retirement are taxed as ordinary income. But there are a few key differences that make the 457(b) uniquely powerful — and sometimes more flexible — than other retirement accounts.

Who Can Contribute to a 457(b)?

The 457(b) comes in two varieties:

• Governmental 457(b). Available to employees of state and local governments — teachers, firefighters, police officers, municipal workers, and similar public employees. The vast majority of 457(b) plans fall into this category.
• Non-governmental 457(b). Available to highly compensated employees of 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations. These have different rules around vesting and distribution and are subject to more risk because the assets remain technically owned by the employer until distribution.

This article focuses primarily on governmental 457(b) plans, which offer the strongest protections and benefits.

How Much Can You Contribute?

In 2026, the contribution limit for a 457(b) plan is $23,500, the same as the 401(k) limit. If you are 50 or older, you can make an additional catch-up contribution of $7,500, bringing the total to $31,000.

The 457(b) also has a unique “last three years” catch-up provision. In the three years before your plan’s normal retirement age, you may be able to contribute up to double the standard limit — potentially $47,000 per year — if you have unused contribution room from prior years. This is separate from the age-50 catch-up and cannot be used simultaneously; you pick whichever is more beneficial.

The Biggest Advantage: No 10% Early Withdrawal Penalty

Unlike 401(k)s and traditional IRAs, governmental 457(b) plans have no 10% early withdrawal penalty if you separate from your employer before age 59.5. If you retire at 52, you can withdraw from your 457(b) immediately, paying only ordinary income taxes. This is a major advantage for employees who plan to retire early, which is common in law enforcement, firefighting, and military-adjacent government roles.

The withdrawn money is still subject to income tax — there is no tax-free early access. But eliminating the 10% penalty is significant for early retirees who would otherwise face it on 401(k) withdrawals.

Double-Dipping with a 401(k) or 403(b)

One of the most powerful features of the 457(b) is that its contribution limit is completely separate from the limit on 401(k) and 403(b) plans. If your employer offers both a 457(b) and a 403(b) — common in education — you can contribute the maximum to both in the same year. That means potentially $47,000 in combined tax-deferred contributions annually (or more with catch-up contributions).

This makes the 457(b) a high-priority account for government and nonprofit employees who are trying to maximize retirement savings.

Investment Options

Like a 401(k), the investment options in a 457(b) depend entirely on what your employer’s plan administrator offers. Many government plans include a range of mutual funds across asset classes. If your plan offers index funds with low expense ratios, prioritize those to minimize costs over time. If the investment options are limited or expensive, still use the account for the tax advantages, but consider an IRA for additional savings with better fund selection.

Roth Option

Some governmental 457(b) plans now offer a Roth option, which works like a Roth 401(k): contributions are after-tax, but qualified withdrawals in retirement are tax-free. If your plan offers this and you expect to be in a higher tax bracket later, the Roth 457(b) can be a powerful tool.

Rollover Rules

Upon leaving your employer, you can roll a governmental 457(b) into a traditional IRA, a 401(k) at a new employer, or another 457(b). This flexibility means you do not have to leave the money in the original plan indefinitely. Keep in mind that once rolled into an IRA or 401(k), the early-withdrawal penalty exemption no longer applies — so if you plan to access the money before 59.5, it may be worth keeping it in the 457(b) structure.

Required Minimum Distributions

Like other pre-tax retirement accounts, 457(b) plans are subject to required minimum distributions (RMDs) starting at age 73. If you are still working for the same employer at 73, you may be able to delay RMDs on that plan until you actually retire.

Bottom Line

The 457(b) is one of the most underutilized retirement accounts in the American system. Government and nonprofit employees who have access to one should strongly consider contributing, especially if they also have a 401(k) or 403(b) — the separate limits mean you can shelter significantly more income from taxes. The absence of the early withdrawal penalty is a particular advantage for anyone who plans to retire before the traditional retirement age.

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Filing a life insurance claim is not complicated, but it requires gathering specific documents and following a process that varies slightly by insurer. If you are a beneficiary navigating the claims process after a loss, here is exactly what to do and what to expect.

Step 1: Locate the Policy

Your first task is finding the life insurance policy or the insurer’s contact information. Check the deceased’s files, email accounts (search for insurer names or “life insurance”), safe deposit box, and financial documents. If you know the policy exists but cannot find paperwork, check with the deceased’s employer (for group life coverage), financial advisor, or attorney.

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) has a Life Insurance Policy Locator service that can help identify policies when you do not know which company holds them. This free service contacts insurers on your behalf.

Step 2: Get Multiple Certified Copies of the Death Certificate

You will need an official, certified death certificate — not a photocopy — to file a claim. Order more than you think you need. Most insurers require one per policy, and you may need additional copies for banks, investment accounts, the Social Security Administration, and other institutions. Ten to twelve copies is a reasonable starting point for most estates. Certified copies are obtained through the county vital records office where the death occurred.

Step 3: Contact the Insurance Company

Call the insurer’s claims department directly, not a general customer service line. The number is usually on the policy declaration page, or you can find it on the company’s website under “claims.” Notify them of the death and get a claims packet or a list of required documents. Many insurers now allow you to start the process online.

Step 4: Complete the Claim Form

The insurer will provide a claimant’s statement (also called a proof of death form). Fill it out carefully and completely. Required information typically includes:

• Your relationship to the deceased
• The policy number
• Your contact information and Social Security number
• How you want to receive the payout (lump sum, installments, retained asset account)

Some insurers also request a statement from the attending physician or coroner, depending on the cause and circumstances of death.

Step 5: Submit the Required Documents

Along with the completed claim form and certified death certificate, you may also need to submit:

• The original policy document (if you have it — not all insurers require this)
• Proof of your identity (government-issued ID)
• Proof of your relationship to the insured if you are not listed by name (e.g., a marriage certificate)

Submit everything together rather than piecemeal to avoid delays. Keep copies of everything you send.

How Long Does It Take?

Most life insurance claims are processed within 30 to 60 days after the insurer receives all required documents. Some claims are paid within a week. Delays typically occur when documents are missing, when the death occurred within the first two years of the policy (triggering a contestability review), or when the cause of death requires investigation.

If your claim is taking longer than 60 days with no clear explanation, follow up in writing and contact your state insurance commissioner if you are not receiving a response.

What the Contestability Period Means

Most life insurance policies include a two-year contestability period. If the insured dies within two years of taking out the policy, the insurer can review the original application for material misrepresentations — for example, a medical condition that was not disclosed. If the application was accurate, the claim should still be paid. If there was fraud, the insurer can deny the claim or reduce the payout.

After the two-year contestability period expires, the insurer cannot deny a claim based on application errors (except in cases of outright fraud).

How the Payout Works

You can typically choose how to receive the death benefit:

• Lump sum. The full benefit paid at once. Most common and often the most financially straightforward choice.
• Installments. Regular payments over a set period.
• Retained asset account. The insurer holds the funds in an interest-bearing account that you can draw from. Less common and generally not the best option since the rate may be below what you could earn elsewhere.

Life insurance death benefits are generally not subject to federal income tax for the beneficiary. However, if the payout generates interest (e.g., in a retained asset account), that interest is taxable. Consult a tax advisor if the estate is large or the situation is complex.

What to Do with the Payout

There is no rush to do anything with the money immediately. Give yourself time to grieve before making major financial decisions. If the amount is significant, park it in a high-yield savings account or money market fund while you assess your needs. Consider working with a fee-only financial planner before making permanent decisions about how to invest or use the funds.

Bottom Line

Filing a life insurance claim is a straightforward process that most people can handle without professional help. Gather the certified death certificates, contact the insurer promptly, complete the claim form accurately, and submit everything together. Most valid claims are paid within 30 to 60 days.

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A beneficiary is the person or entity you designate to receive your assets after you die. Almost every financial account that involves accumulated value — retirement accounts, life insurance policies, bank accounts, and brokerage accounts — gives you the option to name one. Getting beneficiary designations right is one of the most important and most commonly overlooked tasks in personal finance.

Why Beneficiary Designations Matter More Than Your Will

Here is a fact that surprises most people: beneficiary designations override your will. If your IRA names your ex-spouse as the beneficiary and your will leaves everything to your new spouse, your ex-spouse gets the IRA. The will is irrelevant for accounts with named beneficiaries. That is why keeping these designations current is essential.

Accounts that pass by beneficiary designation do not go through probate. They transfer directly to the named beneficiary, which is faster, cheaper, and more private than going through the court system.

Types of Beneficiaries

Primary Beneficiary

The primary beneficiary is your first choice — the person or organization who receives the asset when you die. You can name multiple primary beneficiaries and specify the percentage each should receive. For example, you might leave 50% to a spouse and 25% each to two children.

Contingent Beneficiary

A contingent beneficiary is the backup. They inherit only if all primary beneficiaries have predeceased you or disclaim the inheritance. Naming a contingent beneficiary prevents your assets from going through probate if your primary beneficiary dies before you do.

Per Stirpes vs. Per Capita

These designations determine what happens if a beneficiary dies before you. Per stirpes means the deceased beneficiary’s share passes to their heirs — typically their children. Per capita means the share is redistributed equally among the surviving beneficiaries. Per stirpes is generally the better choice if you have children or grandchildren you want to protect.

Which Accounts Have Beneficiary Designations

Almost every account where money can accumulate allows beneficiary designations:

• 401(k), 403(b), and other employer retirement plans
• Traditional and Roth IRAs
• Life insurance policies
• Annuities
• Health Savings Accounts (HSAs)
• Bank accounts (via payable-on-death, or POD, designations)
• Brokerage accounts (via transfer-on-death, or TOD, designations)

Who to Name as a Beneficiary

There is no universal right answer. Considerations include:

• Spouses. Naming a spouse as primary beneficiary is common and has unique tax advantages for inherited IRAs — a surviving spouse can roll the inherited IRA into their own.
• Adult children. Straightforward. Be mindful of equal versus unequal splits if there are estate planning reasons to treat children differently.
• Minor children. Never name minors directly as beneficiaries of retirement accounts or life insurance. Minors cannot legally control significant assets. Instead, establish a trust and name the trust as the beneficiary, with a trustee designated to manage funds for the child.
• Trusts. Naming a trust gives you more control over how assets are distributed, who manages them, and under what conditions. Required when beneficiaries include minors, have special needs, or cannot be trusted to manage money independently.
• Charities. Particularly effective for traditional IRA assets — a charity does not pay income tax on the distribution, whereas an individual beneficiary would.
• Your estate. Naming your estate as beneficiary means the assets go through probate and lose the direct-transfer benefit. Avoid this unless advised by an attorney with a specific reason.

When to Update Beneficiary Designations

Review your beneficiaries after any major life event:

• Marriage
• Divorce
• Birth or adoption of a child
• Death of a named beneficiary
• Major change in relationship or financial situation
• Opening a new financial account

A reasonable practice is to review all beneficiary designations annually — when you do your taxes or during a financial check-up. This takes 20–30 minutes and can prevent significant problems later.

How to Update Your Beneficiaries

Log in to each financial account separately. Most institutions have a beneficiary section under account settings or profile. You will typically need:

• Full legal name of the beneficiary
• Social Security number
• Date of birth
• Relationship to you
• Percentage allocation if naming multiple beneficiaries

For employer retirement plans, contact your HR department or plan administrator — sometimes you cannot update these online and need a paper form.

Spouse Rights and Retirement Accounts

Federal law (ERISA) requires that a spouse be the primary beneficiary of 401(k) and similar employer retirement plans unless the spouse signs a written waiver. Even if you name someone else, your spouse may have a legal claim. This rule does not apply to IRAs, which are governed by state law and your own designation.

Bottom Line

Beneficiary designations are simple to set, take only a few minutes per account, and carry significant consequences if neglected. They supersede your will and probate your estate avoidance mechanism. Take an afternoon to audit every account, confirm your beneficiaries are who you intend, and name contingent beneficiaries where you have not already done so.

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The federal funds rate is the interest rate at which banks lend money to each other overnight. It is set by the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC), a body within the Federal Reserve, and it serves as the foundational interest rate for the entire U.S. economy. When the Fed raises or lowers this rate, it ripples through savings accounts, mortgages, car loans, credit cards, and investment markets.

Why the Fed Sets a Target Rate

Banks are required to hold a certain amount of reserves — money set aside to meet withdrawal demands and regulatory requirements. Some banks end up with excess reserves; others fall short at the end of the day. Banks with surpluses lend to banks with deficits overnight, charging the federal funds rate for those short-term loans.

The Fed does not mandate a single rate — it sets a target range (e.g., 4.25%–4.50%) and uses open market operations (buying and selling government securities) to push the actual rate toward that target.

How the Fed Uses This Rate as a Policy Tool

The Federal Reserve has a dual mandate: maintain maximum employment and keep inflation stable (targeting roughly 2% annual inflation). The federal funds rate is the primary lever it uses to pursue both goals.

• When inflation is high, the Fed raises the rate. Higher rates make borrowing more expensive, which reduces consumer and business spending, cools demand, and eventually brings prices down.
• When the economy is slowing or in recession, the Fed lowers the rate. Cheaper borrowing encourages spending and investment, which stimulates economic activity.

How the Federal Funds Rate Affects Savings Accounts

When the Fed raises rates, banks can earn more by holding reserves or lending to other banks. They pass some of this through to depositors in the form of higher savings rates. High-yield savings accounts and money market accounts tend to respond fairly quickly to Fed rate increases.

When the Fed cuts rates, savings rates fall — sometimes rapidly. This is why the attractive rates on high-yield savings accounts are not permanent: they track the federal funds rate environment, not the bank’s generosity.

How It Affects Mortgages

Mortgage rates do not directly track the federal funds rate — they are more closely tied to the 10-year Treasury yield. However, Fed rate movements influence Treasury yields indirectly through market expectations. In general:

• When the Fed raises rates, mortgage rates tend to rise.
• When the Fed cuts rates, mortgage rates tend to fall — though not always immediately or proportionally.

Adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs) are more directly tied to short-term rates and will reset higher or lower as the federal funds rate changes.

How It Affects Credit Cards

Most credit card APRs are variable, tied to the prime rate, which banks set at roughly 3 percentage points above the federal funds rate. When the Fed raises the federal funds rate by 0.25%, the prime rate rises by 0.25%, and your credit card APR typically rises within one billing cycle.

For anyone carrying a credit card balance, this is one of the most direct and immediate ways the Fed’s rate decisions affect their finances.

How It Affects Auto and Personal Loans

Auto loan rates are also influenced by the federal funds rate, though the relationship is not as direct as with credit cards. Lenders price loans based on their cost of funds, risk, and competition. When rates are higher across the board, auto loans cost more. When rates fall, financing becomes cheaper — which is often when automakers offer low-rate or zero-rate promotional financing.

How It Affects the Stock Market

The federal funds rate affects stock valuations in a few ways:

• Discount rate. Future corporate earnings are worth less in present-value terms when interest rates are high. This is why growth stocks (whose value is based heavily on expected future earnings) tend to fall when rates rise.
• Cost of borrowing. Higher rates increase costs for companies with floating-rate debt, squeezing margins.
• Opportunity cost. When safe assets like Treasury bills pay 4%–5%, stocks become comparatively less attractive, reducing demand.

Rate cuts tend to do the opposite — making stocks relatively more attractive and reducing corporate borrowing costs.

How to Track Fed Rate Decisions

The FOMC meets eight times per year and issues a statement after each meeting. You can follow announcements at federalreserve.gov. The Fed also publishes the “dot plot” — a chart showing where each FOMC member expects the rate to be at the end of the next several years — which gives markets a forecast of the rate trajectory.

What the Current Rate Environment Means for Your Finances

In 2026, rates remain elevated relative to the near-zero environment of 2020–2021. This means:

• High-yield savings accounts and T-bills offer competitive yields worth maximizing for cash holdings.
• Variable-rate debt (credit cards, ARMs) is expensive — paying it off aggressively makes sense.
• Fixed-rate mortgages locked in before the rate increases are valuable — refinancing is unlikely to save money unless rates fall significantly.

Bottom Line

The federal funds rate is one of the most consequential numbers in personal finance, even if it rarely appears on your bank statement. Understanding how it feeds through to your savings, debt, and investments lets you make better decisions when the rate environment changes — and it always eventually does.

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Treasury bills, or T-bills, are short-term U.S. government debt securities that mature in anywhere from four weeks to one year. They are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government, which makes them one of the safest investments in the world. And in 2026, with rates remaining above historical averages, they are worth understanding as a place to park cash.

How T-Bills Work

T-bills are sold at a discount to face value. You pay less than the face amount upfront, and at maturity you receive the full face value. The difference is your return — effectively the interest.

For example, if a 26-week T-bill has a face value of $1,000 and sells at $975, you pay $975 today and receive $1,000 in six months. The $25 difference is your earnings. There are no periodic interest payments — T-bills are zero-coupon securities.

T-Bill Maturity Terms

The Treasury auctions T-bills on a regular schedule in the following terms:

• 4-week (approximately 1 month)
• 8-week (approximately 2 months)
• 13-week (approximately 3 months)
• 17-week (approximately 4 months)
• 26-week (approximately 6 months)
• 52-week (approximately 1 year)

The shorter the term, the lower the yield — though that relationship can invert during unusual rate environments.

Where to Buy T-Bills

You have two main options for purchasing T-bills:

TreasuryDirect.gov

TreasuryDirect is the U.S. government’s official platform for purchasing Treasury securities directly from the source. To use it:

1. Create an account at TreasuryDirect.gov. You will need your Social Security number, bank account information, and email.
2. Fund your TreasuryDirect account from your bank account.
3. Navigate to “BuyDirect” and select T-bills.
4. Choose the term (4-week, 13-week, etc.) and enter the purchase amount (minimum $100, in $100 increments).
5. Select either competitive or non-competitive bidding. Most individual investors choose non-competitive, which guarantees you get the T-bill at the auction’s average price.
6. Submit your purchase before the auction deadline.

At maturity, the face value is deposited directly to your linked bank account, or you can roll it into a new T-bill automatically by selecting the “reinvest” option.

Through a Brokerage Account

You can also buy T-bills through most major brokerages — Fidelity, Vanguard, Schwab, and others. The process:

1. In your brokerage account, navigate to fixed income or bonds.
2. Look for Treasury bills under the “new issues” section to buy at auction, or search the secondary market to buy existing T-bills.
3. Select the term and quantity and place your order.

Buying through a brokerage is slightly more convenient because the T-bill shows up alongside your other investments in one account. There is typically no additional fee for new-issue T-bills at major brokerages.

T-Bills vs. Money Market Funds vs. High-Yield Savings Accounts

These three options compete for the same short-term cash:

• T-bills. Backed by the federal government. Interest is exempt from state and local taxes. Slightly less liquid than the other options since you lock in a term.
• Money market funds. Convenient, liquid, typically invest in T-bills and similar instruments. Usually competitive yields but not directly backed by the government in the same way.
• High-yield savings accounts (HYSAs). FDIC-insured up to $250,000. Easy access. Rates can change at any time with no notice.

For most people in 2026, the decision comes down to state tax situation, liquidity needs, and preference for simplicity. T-bills win on state tax exemption — that matters more in high-tax states like California and New York.

Tax Treatment of T-Bill Income

The interest earned on T-bills is subject to federal income tax but exempt from state and local income taxes. This makes T-bills especially attractive if you live in a high-tax state. The earnings are reported on a 1099-INT, which TreasuryDirect or your brokerage will send you after the bill matures.

T-Bill Laddering Strategy

A T-bill ladder means staggering purchases across different maturity dates so that a portion of your investment comes due regularly. For example, you might buy a 4-week, 8-week, 13-week, and 26-week T-bill at the same time. As each one matures, you reinvest in the longest term you want to maintain, keeping the ladder cycling.

This strategy gives you liquidity (something maturing every few weeks) while maintaining exposure to T-bill rates. It also smooths out rate fluctuations over time.

Bottom Line

T-bills are a safe, low-friction way to earn a return on cash you do not need immediately. TreasuryDirect makes it easy to buy directly from the government with no fees, and most major brokerages offer them at auction for free as well. If you are holding significant cash in a checking or low-yield savings account, T-bills are worth comparing to your current options.

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