Do you have substantial assets in your IRAs? It's important to be smart about beneficiary designations, and maximizing tax benefits, while avoiding potential pitfalls. But it's also essential not just to fill out all of the paperwork and forget about it. Instead, take the time to discuss your plans with family members.

Spouses who inherit traditional IRA assets have more flexibility than other beneficiaries, though non-spouses, too, can benefit from careful planning to determine the best ways to pass along money in an IRA. Here are key points to cover in your family discussions:

The first thing to do is to bring everyone up to speed on the differences between spouses and other beneficiaries.