If you designate family members to inherit your IRA accounts, you may inadvertently leave them 30% less than you intend. IRAs are loaded with unpaid taxes, and non-spousal beneficiaries must pay those taxes at their own individual income tax rates.
Naming charities to receive IRA assets after your death and family members to receive other assets can be a tax-smart plan. This and other suggestions are outlined in the short publication Beneficiary Designations: A Powerful Estate-Planning Tool That Can Benefit Your Loved Ones and Charities.