In regards to funding, can’t I just use beneficiary designations?

That’s a great “Plan A”; however, beneficiary designations often do not provide contingency plans. We recommend naming your trust as the beneficiary of the appropriate accounts so that any funds held within those accounts are administered according to the terms of your trust. In doing so, you’ve already detailed exactly how and when your beneficiaries should inherit, and provided clear instructions for what should happen if a beneficiary is deceased.