"Prior law defined two categories of beneficiaries, those who were 'designated beneficiaries' (eligible for 'stretch' treatment) and those who were not. The new law preserves those classifications, changes the treatment of designated beneficiaries, and adds one additional category, 'eligible designated beneficiaries.' Different rules apply to each category. Prior law also made a distinction in the treatment of inherited retirement accounts depending on whether the participant died before her required beginning date for taking distributions from retirement accounts or after. The new law does away with that distinction."  MORE >>