Bear in mind, though, that beneficiary designations supersede the instructions in your will. So, if you've been divorced for a decade and forgot to remove your ex-spouse as the beneficiary, they would still have a claim to the account. That's why reviewing beneficiary designations after a major life change, like a marriage or divorce, is essential.
Also, be sure to notify your loved ones whom you've named as beneficiaries. You'll need to give them the name of the brokerage firm so they can notify the company and avoid delays in transferring ownership.