As outlined in U.S. News and World Report, Roth IRAs have many appealing characteristics. They grow income tax free. Owners are not required to take minimum distributions at age 70 1/2 so long as the account has been in place for five years. The income limit has been removed on Roth conversions, so anyone can convert a regular IRA to a Roth IRA. If tax rates increase, the benefit to converting now will be even greater.
It is important to remember that it is not your will or trust that determines who will inherit your Roth IRA. Roth IRAs, like all IRAs, include their own beneficiary designation. The owner of the Roth stipulates the beneficiaries of the account. In some cases, it will be the most advantageous to stipulate individual beneficiaries so that those beneficiaries can create their own Roth IRAs and stretch the tax savings over their lifetimes.
Consult your estate planning attorney for further information.