Ownership and Estate Planning Techniques

Exam Weight: ~2-3 questions (3% of exam)

Property ownership forms and estate planning techniques determine how assets are titled, transferred at death, and distributed to beneficiaries. This unit covers the ownership structures, transfer methods, and planning tools tested on the Series 65.

What You'll Learn

• Types of property ownership: JTWROS, TIC, TBE, and community property
• Transfer-on-death (TOD) and pay-on-death (POD) account designations
• Beneficiary designations including per stirpes and per capita distribution
• Basic trust and will concepts for estate planning
• Qualified domestic relations orders (QDROs) for dividing retirement assets
• Donor advised funds as a charitable giving vehicle