The SECURE Act eliminated the stretch inherited 401(k) for most non-spouse beneficiaries, replacing it with a hard deadline: the entire balance must be distributed within 10 years of the original owner's death.
The SECURE Act of 2019 and the SECURE Act 2.0 of 2022 all but fundamentally changed retirement account rules in ways that continue to catch both retirees and their beneficiaries by surprise. The changes weren't minor either, as they altered the r equired minimum distribution timeline, eliminating the stretch IRA strategies for most beneficiaries, and created new compliance deadlines that now carry some pretty severe penalties. It goes without saying that understanding these rules is critical, as the penalties from the IRS can be steep if you are not compliant.