One mistake by your heirs could result in a 60% tax bill on your retirement savings. Or, these savings can be left largely intact to provide your family with mostly tax free compounding for decades. It's up to you.

Uninformed heirs are likely to use your IRA to pay taxes, pay debts, or as their first resource for personal spending. These uninformed decisions can be disasterous, and a lifetime of saving can easily be blown before they know it. Don't take my word for it:

Click here for a primer on IRA planning.

Here's a short article on the concept of Stretch IRAs.

Leaving your IRA to your trust may or may not be a good idea.

Estate planning with your IRA can be as simple naming the right beneficiaries, or by going the more involved route of using a specially designed IRA Inheritance Trust - it depends on your family's situation. One thing's sure - don't leave it to chance. Review your goals and situation with a trusted professional.

If you'd like to know the best ways to leave your IRA to your heirs, just click here.