Free printable
Retirement Account Inventory
By Jason Su · Updated October 21, 2026
A retirement account does not pass through your will. It passes to the person named on the account itself. If nobody is named, the account can fall into the estate and lose some of the protections it was built on. This sheet lists every retirement account in one place, with the beneficiary column front and center.
The Bank Account Inventory covers checking and savings. This sheet is for the accounts with their own inheritance rules: IRAs, 401(k)s, pensions, and annuities.
The sheet
The accounts
| Account type | Where it is held | Account number | Named beneficiary | Contingent beneficiary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Traditional IRA | ||||
| Roth IRA | ||||
| 401(k) or 403(b) | ||||
| Pension | ||||
| Annuity | ||||
| Other (HSA, brokerage) |
What to check
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Which accounts have a named beneficiary | |
| Which accounts name nobody, or name the estate | |
| Which accounts allow a contingent (backup) beneficiary | |
| Where the login and statements are | |
| Who has access if I cannot act |
How to use it
- Start with the beneficiary column. That one line decides who receives the account, and it beats anything your will says. An empty box here is the most important one on the page to fill.
- Write the account type, not just “retirement.” A Roth IRA and a traditional IRA follow different rules for the person who inherits them. The type matters later.
- Log into each account to copy the details. The company that holds the account is not always the employer you earned it through, especially for an old 401(k).
- Check the contingent beneficiary. If the first person named has already passed, the backup is what keeps the account out of the estate.
- Keep this sheet somewhere private. It has account numbers and balances, so it belongs in a locked place, not on the fridge.
Frequently asked
Why does the beneficiary line matter so much?
A retirement account passes directly to whoever is named on the account, not through your will. An empty or out-of-date beneficiary line is the most common way these accounts end up somewhere you did not intend.
Does a Roth IRA pass differently from a traditional IRA?
Yes. The tax treatment for the person who inherits is different, and the rules have changed in recent years. Confirm the current rules with the account provider before relying on them.
What if the account names “the estate”?
Then the account is likely to go through probate, which can cost money and time, and it may lose some tax advantages. That is usually the outcome to avoid.
How often should I update this?
Once a year, and whenever there is a change in the family — a marriage, a divorce, a birth, or a passing. The Annual Review Checklist turns that into a routine.
Next step
Open your oldest retirement account today and read the beneficiary line out loud. That single line is the whole point of this sheet, and it takes a minute to check.
Then list the rest, and run the same beneficiary check across the accounts with the Beneficiary Review Worksheet.
This is a record sheet, not financial or tax advice. Retirement account rules, beneficiary rules, and tax treatment differ by account type and by provider, and they change over time — confirm the details with your plan administrator or a licensed financial professional.