For those who own IRA accounts, you should know that your beneficiaries aren't protected from creditors knocking down their door. Courts have repeatedly ruled against protecting the beneficiaries of these accounts from creditors.

"Apparently, the reasoning of the courts that have heard these cases is that when an IRA or other retirement account passes to a beneficiary at the death of the owner, it ceases to be a “retirement” asset which is protected by federal law and turns into an “inheritance.”"

There is good news though ~ apparently this doesn't matter if the beneficiary is your spouse.