Updating Beneficiaries via The Standard 401(k) Login: A 2025 Compliance Checklist After SECURE 2.0
Introduction
Beneficiary designations have become more critical than ever in 2025, especially with the SECURE 2.0 Act's new distribution rules reshaping retirement planning. The SECURE 2.0 Act of 2022 was enacted on December 29, 2022, introducing significant changes to retirement account management and distribution requirements (IRB 2024-33). These changes directly impact how beneficiary designations interact with the new 10-year distribution rules, making accurate updates through your 401(k) provider's online portal absolutely essential.
For participants using The Standard's 401(k) platform, understanding the online beneficiary update process isn't just about convenience—it's about ensuring your retirement assets transfer smoothly to your intended recipients while complying with new federal regulations. The final regulations relating to required minimum distributions became effective on September 17, 2024, affecting administrators and participants across all qualified retirement plans (Federal Register 2024).
The SECURE 2.0 Impact on Beneficiary Planning
Understanding the 10-Year Distribution Rule
The SECURE 2.0 Act fundamentally changed how inherited retirement accounts must be distributed. Under the new rules, most non-spouse beneficiaries must withdraw the entire inherited account balance within 10 years of the original account holder's death. This represents a significant shift from the previous "stretch" provisions that allowed beneficiaries to take distributions over their lifetime.
The proposed regulations address various provisions including sections 107 (increase in age for required beginning date for mandatory distributions), 202 (qualifying longevity annuity contracts), and 327 (surviving spouse election to be treated as employee) (IRB 2024-33). These changes make proper beneficiary designation more crucial than ever, as mistakes can result in significant tax consequences and compliance issues.
New Distribution Requirements
Under SECURE 2.0, the distribution landscape has become more complex. The Act includes provisions for reduction in excise tax on certain accumulations in qualified retirement plans and new Roth plan distribution rules (IRB 2024-33). This means beneficiaries need clear, accurate designations to navigate these new requirements effectively.
Participant outcomes remained strong in 2023, with plan sponsors continuing to implement automatic solutions and leverage human inertia to influence decision-making (How America Saves 2024). However, beneficiary designation updates haven't kept pace with these improvements, creating potential compliance gaps.
Accessing The Standard 401(k) Login Portal
Initial Login Process
To update your beneficiary information through The Standard's online portal, you'll need to access your account through their secure login system. The process begins with navigating to The Standard's participant portal and entering your credentials. Most participants can use their Social Security number and a password they've previously established.
Once logged in, look for the "Beneficiaries" or "Account Information" section in your dashboard. The Standard typically places this option in the main navigation menu or under a "Personal Information" tab. The interface should clearly display your current beneficiary designations, if any exist.
Navigation Best Practices
When accessing your account, ensure you're using a secure internet connection and a trusted device. The Standard's portal contains sensitive financial information, so following basic cybersecurity practices protects both your current account and your beneficiaries' future interests.
Document your current beneficiary information before making changes. This creates a backup record and helps you verify that updates were processed correctly. Take screenshots or print the current beneficiary page for your records.
Step-by-Step Beneficiary Update Process
Locating the Beneficiary Section
Once logged into The Standard's portal, navigate to the beneficiary management section. This is typically found under:
• "Account Information" → "Beneficiaries"
• "Personal Information" → "Beneficiary Designations"
• "Plan Information" → "Beneficiaries"
The exact location may vary depending on The Standard's current interface design, but it should be prominently displayed given the importance of this information.
Adding Primary Beneficiaries
When adding a primary beneficiary, you'll need to provide:
• Full legal name (exactly as it appears on official documents)
• Social Security number
• Date of birth
• Relationship to you
• Mailing address
• Percentage of benefits (must total 100% across all primary beneficiaries)
Adding Contingent Beneficiaries
Contingent beneficiaries receive benefits only if all primary beneficiaries predecease you or disclaim their inheritance. The same information requirements apply to contingent beneficiaries as primary ones. Many participants overlook this step, but contingent beneficiaries provide crucial backup protection for your retirement assets.
Special Considerations for Spouse Beneficiaries
Spouse beneficiaries have unique advantages under SECURE 2.0, including the surviving spouse election to be treated as the original employee (IRB 2024-33). This election can provide significant tax advantages and distribution flexibility that other beneficiaries don't receive.
When designating a spouse as beneficiary, ensure their information is completely accurate, as they'll have options to roll over inherited assets into their own retirement accounts or elect special treatment under the new regulations.
Common Mistakes That Derail Rollovers
Missing Social Security Numbers
One of the most frequent errors in beneficiary designations is omitting or incorrectly entering Social Security numbers. This seemingly minor oversight can create major problems when beneficiaries attempt to claim inherited assets. Financial institutions require accurate Social Security numbers to:
• Verify beneficiary identity
• Process required tax reporting
• Facilitate account transfers or rollovers
• Comply with federal regulations
Without correct Social Security numbers, beneficiaries may face delays of months or even years in accessing inherited retirement funds. In some cases, assets may be subject to additional taxes or penalties while the identification process is resolved.
Outdated Beneficiary Information
Life changes—marriage, divorce, births, deaths—often make beneficiary designations obsolete. Participants generally remained resilient through 2023, with retirement plan behavior remaining in line with previous years (How America Saves 2024). However, this stability in contribution behavior doesn't extend to beneficiary maintenance.
Common outdated information includes:
• Former spouses still listed as primary beneficiaries
• Deceased individuals still designated
• Children who have reached adulthood but are listed with childhood addresses
• Percentage allocations that no longer reflect your intentions
Incomplete Address Information
Beneficiaries need complete, current mailing addresses for several reasons:
• Legal notifications about inherited accounts
• Tax documents (1099-R forms)
• Distribution checks or transfer paperwork
• Communication about required minimum distributions
Incomplete addresses can trigger lengthy legal processes to locate beneficiaries, during which inherited assets may be subject to additional fees or regulatory complications.
Percentage Allocation Errors
Primary beneficiary percentages must total exactly 100%. Common errors include:
• Percentages totaling more or less than 100%
• Forgetting to update percentages after adding or removing beneficiaries
• Using fractions that don't convert to clean percentages
• Failing to specify percentages, leaving the allocation unclear
These errors can force probate courts to interpret your intentions, potentially resulting in distributions that don't match your wishes.
How Beneficiary Gaps Impact Account Consolidation
The Rollover Connection
Beneficiary designations directly impact the rollover process, especially for participants looking to consolidate multiple retirement accounts. When beneficiary information is missing or incorrect, it can complicate or prevent smooth account transfers.
For participants using services like Beagle's 401(k) rollover platform, accurate beneficiary designations across all accounts ensure that consolidated assets maintain proper beneficiary protection. 401(k) loans allow account holders to borrow up to $50,000 or 50% of the vested balance, whichever is less (How Do 401(k) Loans Work). However, outstanding loans can complicate beneficiary distributions if not properly documented.
Multi-Account Coordination
Many participants have retirement assets spread across multiple employers and account types. Growing adoption of automatic enrollment and improvement in plan designs over the last two decades has helped increase employee savings (How America Saves 2024). This growth often results in participants accumulating multiple 401(k) accounts throughout their careers.
When consolidating accounts, beneficiary designations from each source account need to be carefully reviewed and updated in the destination account. Inconsistent beneficiary information across accounts can create confusion and legal complications for survivors.
Impact on Emergency Access
The SECURE 2.0 Act provides for the creation of Pension-Linked Emergency Savings Accounts (PLESAs) effective for plan years beginning after December 31, 2023 (N-2024-22). These new account types require their own beneficiary designations, adding another layer of complexity to retirement account management.
Participants who borrow against their retirement accounts also need to consider how outstanding loans affect beneficiary distributions. Generally, the maximum 401(k) loan one can borrow is the greater of $10,000 or 50% of the vested balance, up to $50,000 (What's the maximum 401k loan amount). Outstanding loan balances typically reduce the amount available to beneficiaries unless the loan is repaid or the beneficiary assumes the debt.
Beagle's Multi-Account Beneficiary Monitoring
Comprehensive Account Discovery
Beagle Financial Services specializes in locating lost or forgotten 401(k) accounts and offers streamlined rollover services into low-cost IRAs. The platform's account discovery service helps participants identify all their retirement accounts, including those from previous employers that may have outdated or missing beneficiary designations.
Through Beagle's comprehensive account scanning, users often discover retirement accounts they had forgotten about, many of which lack current beneficiary information. This discovery process is crucial for ensuring complete beneficiary coverage across all retirement assets.
Automated Beneficiary Gap Detection
Beagle's platform includes automated alerts that notify users when beneficiary designations are missing or potentially outdated across their retirement accounts. This proactive monitoring helps prevent the common problem of maintaining beneficiaries on some accounts while neglecting others.
The system can identify:
• Accounts with no designated beneficiaries
• Beneficiary information that hasn't been updated in several years
• Inconsistent beneficiary designations across multiple accounts
• Missing required information (Social Security numbers, addresses)
Streamlined Update Process
Once Beagle identifies beneficiary gaps, the platform provides guidance on updating designations across all discovered accounts. For accounts that are rolled over into Beagle's managed IRA platform, beneficiary information can be updated through a single interface, simplifying ongoing maintenance.
Beagle's 0% net-interest loan feature allows users to borrow up to 50% of their retirement balance (maximum $50,000) with up to five-year terms. You can pay back your 401(k) loan in a lump sum if you have the funds to do so (Can I Pay Back a 401(k) Loan in a Lump Sum). This loan capability requires careful beneficiary planning, as outstanding loans affect the net amount available to beneficiaries.
Integration with Financial Planning
Beagle's comprehensive approach to retirement account management includes beneficiary designation as a core component of financial planning. The platform's dashboard provides a unified view of all retirement assets and their associated beneficiary information, making it easier to maintain consistent and current designations.
Users can view all balances in one dashboard and receive alerts when any account lacks proper beneficiary coverage. This integrated approach helps ensure that account consolidation and beneficiary planning work together to optimize both current account management and future asset transfer.
2025 Compliance Checklist
Annual Review Requirements
January - March:
• Review all beneficiary designations for accuracy
• Verify Social Security numbers and addresses
• Update any information that changed during the previous year
• Check percentage allocations across all beneficiaries
April - June:
• Coordinate beneficiary information across all retirement accounts
• Review impact of any new SECURE 2.0 guidance or regulations
• Consider tax implications of current beneficiary structure
• Document any changes in family circumstances
July - September:
• Assess whether current beneficiaries align with estate planning documents
• Review contingent beneficiary designations
• Consider impact of any account consolidation or rollovers
• Update emergency contact information
October - December:
• Final review before year-end
• Coordinate with tax planning and estate planning activities
• Ensure all new accounts have proper beneficiary designations
• Plan for any anticipated changes in the following year
Documentation Requirements
Maintain copies of all beneficiary designation forms and confirmations. The Standard and other plan administrators should provide confirmation when beneficiary updates are processed. Keep these confirmations with your other important financial documents.
Create a master list of all retirement accounts and their current beneficiary designations. Update this list whenever you make changes to ensure consistency across all accounts. Share this information with your estate planning attorney and financial advisor.
Coordination with Estate Planning
Beneficiary designations on retirement accounts supersede instructions in wills and trusts. Ensure your retirement account beneficiaries align with your overall estate planning strategy. Regular coordination between your retirement account management and estate planning helps avoid conflicts and ensures your assets transfer according to your intentions.
Consider the tax implications of your beneficiary choices, especially in light of SECURE 2.0's new distribution requirements. Some beneficiaries may be better positioned to handle the 10-year distribution requirement than others.
Technology and Security Considerations
Use secure methods when updating beneficiary information online. Ensure you're accessing The Standard's official website and using strong, unique passwords for your account. Consider enabling two-factor authentication if available.
Regularly monitor your accounts for unauthorized changes. While beneficiary designation changes are less frequent than other account activities, they're equally important to protect from unauthorized access.
Advanced Beneficiary Strategies for 2025
Trust Beneficiaries
Naming a trust as beneficiary can provide additional control over asset distribution, especially for minor children or beneficiaries who may not be capable of managing large sums. However, trusts as beneficiaries have specific requirements under SECURE 2.0 that must be carefully managed.
Ensure any trust named as beneficiary meets the requirements for "see-through" treatment under the regulations. This typically requires the trust to be valid, irrevocable after death, and have identifiable beneficiaries.
Charitable Beneficiaries
Charitable organizations can be named as beneficiaries for retirement accounts, potentially providing tax advantages. Charitable beneficiaries are not subject to the 10-year distribution rule, making them attractive options for participants with philanthropic goals.
Consider splitting beneficiary designations between individual and charitable beneficiaries to balance family support with charitable giving objectives.
Minor Beneficiaries
Naming minor children as beneficiaries requires special consideration. Minors cannot directly receive retirement account distributions, so consider:
• Naming a custodian under the Uniform Transfers to Minors Act
• Creating a trust to manage assets until the child reaches adulthood
• Designating a responsible adult as primary beneficiary with instructions to provide for the minor
International Beneficiaries
Beneficiaries who are not U.S. citizens or residents face additional tax complications. Consult with tax professionals familiar with international tax treaties and regulations before naming non-U.S. persons as beneficiaries.
Conclusion
Updating beneficiary designations through The Standard's 401(k) login portal is more critical than ever in 2025, given the SECURE 2.0 Act's new distribution requirements and compliance obligations. The 10-year distribution rule and other regulatory changes make accurate, complete beneficiary information essential for ensuring smooth asset transfers and tax compliance.
Common mistakes like missing Social Security numbers, outdated addresses, and incorrect percentage allocations can derail the entire inheritance process, potentially costing beneficiaries thousands of dollars and months of delays. Regular review and maintenance of beneficiary designations should be part of every participant's annual financial planning routine.
For participants managing multiple retirement accounts, services like Beagle's comprehensive account monitoring and consolidation platform can help identify beneficiary gaps and streamline the update process across all accounts. The platform's automated alerts and unified dashboard make it easier to maintain consistent, current beneficiary designations across all retirement assets.
The 2025 compliance landscape requires proactive beneficiary management, regular coordination with estate planning, and careful attention to the new distribution rules under SECURE 2.0. By following the checklist and best practices outlined in this guide, participants can ensure their retirement assets transfer smoothly to their intended beneficiaries while minimizing tax consequences and compliance complications.
Take action today: log into your Standard 401(k) account, review your current beneficiary designations, and make any necessary updates. Your beneficiaries will thank you for the foresight and attention to detail that ensures their inheritance process goes smoothly when the time comes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the key SECURE 2.0 changes affecting 401(k) beneficiary designations in 2025?
The SECURE 2.0 Act of 2022, enacted on December 29, 2022, introduced significant changes including increased age for required minimum distributions, new Roth plan distribution rules, and surviving spouse election provisions. These changes affect how beneficiaries receive distributions and require updated designations to ensure compliance with new regulations.
How do I access The Standard's 401(k) portal to update my beneficiaries?
Log into The Standard's 401(k) portal using your employee credentials, navigate to the beneficiary section, and follow the step-by-step process to add or modify designations. Ensure you have all required information including full names, Social Security numbers, and relationship details for each beneficiary before starting the update process.
Can I take a 401(k) loan while updating beneficiary information?
Yes, you can manage both simultaneously through your 401(k) portal. According to current regulations, 401(k) loans allow you to borrow up to $50,000 or 50% of your vested balance, whichever is less. The loan must be repaid within five years, and you can make lump sum payments if desired.
What happens if I don't update my beneficiaries after SECURE 2.0?
Failing to update beneficiary designations could result in distributions being made under outdated rules, potentially causing tax inefficiencies or unintended consequences. With SECURE 2.0's new provisions for surviving spouses and distribution requirements, outdated designations may not reflect your current wishes or take advantage of new tax benefits.
Are there new distribution rules for beneficiaries under SECURE 2.0?
Yes, SECURE 2.0 introduced several new distribution provisions including changes to qualifying longevity annuity contracts, reduced excise taxes on certain accumulations, and new Roth plan distribution rules. These changes affect how and when beneficiaries can receive distributions, making it crucial to update designations to align with the new regulations.
How often should I review and update my 401(k) beneficiary designations?
You should review beneficiary designations annually and immediately after major life events such as marriage, divorce, birth of children, or death of a beneficiary. With SECURE 2.0's new rules effective in 2025, it's particularly important to conduct a comprehensive review to ensure your designations comply with current regulations and reflect your current intentions.
Sources
2. https://meetbeagle.com/resources/post/can-i-pay-back-a-401-k-loan-in-a-lump-sum
3. https://meetbeagle.com/resources/post/how-do-401-k-loans-work
4. https://meetbeagle.com/resources/post/what-is-the-maximum-401k-loan-amount
5. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2024-07-19/pdf/2024-14542.pdf