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<p class="MsoNormal">Worst case scenario, there is a series of private letter rulings permitting a surviving spouse as PR of the estate to roll the IRA to the surviving spouse as a rollover IRA. Nick’s suggestion is the better option if possible.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<font size="4" color="#777777"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'"><font size="3"><font color="#000000"><o:p style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'">
<p style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; MARGIN: 0in 0in 6pt"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'">Amy Lewis,
Attorney<br>Pronouns she/her/hers<br></span><img style="HEIGHT: 68px; WIDTH: 211px" src="cid:Logo_fa335a1d-9f24-4802-a3dd-b58f259e3c98.png" width="211" height="68" border="0"><br></p></o:p></font></font></span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'"><span style="COLOR: #000000"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'">909 A Street, Suite
600 | Tacoma, WA 98402<br></span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'"><strong style="COLOR: #000000"></strong>phone 253.572.4500 | fax 253.272.5732
|</span></span></span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'"> </span><a href="http://www.eisenhowerlaw.com/"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; TEXT-DECORATION: none; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; COLOR: #c00000; text-underline: none">www.eisenhowerlaw.com</span></a></font>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">From:</span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"> wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com <wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com>
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Nick Pleasants<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Thursday, May 28, 2026 6:11 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> WSBA Probate & Trust Listserv <wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com><br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [WSBAPT] Retirement Account with No listed Beneficiary<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Hi Amy,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I think TIAA-CREF has it wrong, and I have had issues with them on beneficiary designations in the past. My understanding is that 403(b) plans, like 401(k), are subject to ERISA. ERISA generally requires the spouse be treated as the beneficiary
unless the spouse waives that right in writing (see <a href="https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ebsa/about-ebsa/our-activities/resource-center/faqs/retirement-plans-and-erisa">
https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ebsa/about-ebsa/our-activities/resource-center/faqs/retirement-plans-and-erisa</a>). So I don’t see how they could reach the conclusion that the account had no beneficiary, when the default beneficiary for all ERISA plans should
be the spouse.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I might suggest taking another shot at getting TIAA-CREF to recognize the spouse as the beneficiary based on ERISA. Also, have you requested the plan document? It should have provisions that state what happens when there is no beneficiary,
and if it is an ERISA plan, those provisions should indicate the spouse is treated as beneficiary. If you can review the plan document, and then point TIAA-CREF to their own plan document language, maybe they will budge. Also review the signed beneficiary
forms, or lack thereof.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">You could also try to switch the Custodian, but that can get dicey. If you want to reach out to another custodian, Darryl Lynch at Oppenheimer has been a tremendous resource in dealing with sticky beneficiary situations.
<a href="https://www.oppenheimer.com/advisor/wa/bellevue/bellevue-branch/darryl-lynch">
https://www.oppenheimer.com/advisor/wa/bellevue/bellevue-branch/darryl-lynch</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Good luck!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Best, <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Nick<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color:black">Nicholas Pleasants | Shareholder</span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#70AD47"><img border="0" width="223" height="95" style="width:2.3229in;height:.9895in" id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image001.jpg@01DCEF6B.D5A56E00" alt="OseranHahnAttyatLaw 8"></span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:black">11225 SE 6<sup>th</sup> Street | Suite 100 | Bellevue, WA 98004<br>
Main: (425) 455-3900 | Fax: (425) 455-9201 | E-mail: </span><u><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#0563C1"><a href="mailto:npleasants@ohswlaw.com"><span style="color:#0563C1">npleasants@ohswlaw.com</span></a></span></u><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#1F497D">CONFIDENTIALITY NOTE: This e-mail message contains information belonging to the law firm of Oseran Hahn, P.S., which may be privileged, confidential and/or protected from disclosure. The information
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">From:</span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">
<a href="mailto:wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com">wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com</a> <<a href="mailto:wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com">wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com</a>>
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Amy Felt<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Thursday, May 28, 2026 4:46 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> <a href="mailto:wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com">wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com</a><br>
<b>Subject:</b> [WSBAPT] Retirement Account with No listed Beneficiary<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Listmates, I have a situation I have not dealt with before. The deceased died in December 2020. His surviving spouse did not contact me until a few months ago when an insurance check for house repairs, made out to her and the estate of
xxxx arrived and she could not deposit it into her account. She then mentioned a brokerage account she also couldn't access. We recently opened probate.<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">I just got off the phone with her financial advisor. The deceased had three 403(b) retirement accounts that he opened at the same time all listing his spouse as the beneficiary except this one account which did not list a beneficiary. It
seems odd that only one of the three accounts opened on the same day several years ago would lack a named beneficiary, while the other two list his spouse. I believe he thought all accounts named his wife as beneficiary and that the missing designation was
an error by the custodian. <o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Fast forward to now, TIAA-CREF is telling the wife that the $150k account must be liquidated and distributed to the estate through probate. Then, since the funds will be released to the estate, not the surviving spouse, she has 5 years
to withdraw the funds and pay applicable taxes. The financial advisor estimated a tax implication of $40-50k. The 403-b was earned during the marriage and she is the beneficiary since all assets are community property. <o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Has anyone had this issue before and if so, how did you handle it? Ultimately, the custodian is willing to release the funds via the probate process, but this is not the most tax-advantageous way.<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="gmailsignatureprefix">-- </span><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Felt Law <o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Amy Felt - Attorney<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">9840 Willows Road NE Suite #200<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Redmond, WA 98052<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">425-780-6103<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">(within law offices of Wong Fleming Attorneys)<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Felt Law Spokane Location<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">(next to Music City & within Fannin Litigation Group)<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">1312 N. Monroe St., Ste.132<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt">Spokane, WA 99201<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black">Before proceeding, please note: If you are not a current client of Felt Law, please do not include any information in this e-mail that
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