Vanilla

Vanilla

•

May 31, 2023

If your client has an estate that has not been previously taxable due to the historically high exemption – but may find themselves with a taxable estate when that exemption sunsets at the end of 2025 – this guide is a helpful resource.

Vanilla

•

May 24, 2023

For the past few years, most US tax residents haven’t needed to worry too much about estate tax. But that’s all about to change. At the end of 2025, the historically high estate exemption of $12.92M ($25.84 million per married couple) will sunset back down to an estimated $6-8 million per person or $12-16 million per couple (adjusting for inflation) – suddenly making the estate tax an important consideration for many more households. And the time to act is now. In this webinar, you’ll learn: How the estate tax exemption sunset will impact your clients Key strategies including SLATS, gifting,...

Vanilla

•

May 16, 2023

At our recent Legacy Now event, Hightower CEO Bob Oros and Vanilla cofounder Steve Lockshin sat down with Vanilla CEO Gene Farrell to discuss the changing roles of advisors in estate planning. Learn more about: Why advisors are leaning into Estate Advisory How to use Estate Advisory to connect with clients in a whole new way How technology is helping advisors and wealth planners serve their clients needs around estate planning You can watch the full event here.

Vanilla

•

May 16, 2023

Wealth advisors can now help clients with document creation and on-going estate advice At Vanilla, we believe it’s every wealth advisor's job to ensure that their clients have an estate plan that matches their values and goals.  But more often than not, clients have out-of-date estate planning documents or no documents at all. In fact, according to a 2023 Wills and Estate Planning Study, while 64% of Americans think having a will is important, only 34% of Americans have an estate plan.  When asked why they don’t have those basic documents in place, complexity and time required to hire an...

Vanilla

•

May 11, 2023

Life is unpredictable. And as a financial advisor, one of the essential parts of your job is to help prepare clients for that unpredictability – whether that comes in the form of balancing a portfolio so that it’s not over reliant on a single company or sector or ensuring they have the right documents in place in case of an accident or health scare. One of these key documents is a power of attorney.  A power of attorney (POA) is a legal document that authorizes an individual, known as the agent or attorney-in-fact, to act on behalf of another person,...

Vanilla

•

May 08, 2023

Hear from the teams at Addepar and Vanilla where they’ll discuss how their partnership will bring efficiency to the estate planning process. See how the integration of Addepar into Vanilla can create a comprehensive picture of your clients’ family and financial information in their estate profile. You’ll learn how to: Ensure your clients’ estate plans and balance sheets are up-to-date Save time during the onboarding process Integrate your Addepar accounts into Vanilla

Vanilla

•

May 03, 2023

  Many clients (and some financial advisors as well) tend to reduce estate planning to two simple categories: taxable estates and non-taxable estates. While it’s true that there are important differences in these asset levels, estate planning is not binary. It takes a nuanced approach, one that requires understanding a client’s situation and goals deeply.  However, even with the understanding that a good advisor will always tailor their approach to each individual client’s needs, it can be helpful to think of client needs according to a few different distinct buckets of asset classes – beyond just taxable and non-taxable. We’ve...

Vanilla

•

Apr 25, 2023

Today, advisors use Vanilla to deepen client relationships, increase share of wallet and win new clients. Learn the latest innovations and product announcements on the Vanilla Estate Advisory Platform as of April 25, 2023. Our product experts will provide a deep dive into: How advisors can show their clients simple projections of their estate to help make informed planning decisions about future scenarios The new redesigned PDF estate report which enables advisors to show up with their clients in a whole new way

Vanilla

•

Apr 25, 2023

  A living trust (also called a revocable trust) is a legal document created by a person during their lifetime that directs how their assets are managed during their life, and how they are to be distributed after their death. It can also help bypass or minimize the sometimes expensive and time consuming probate process required by a traditional will.  A living trust is typically used in conjunction with a short will that directs all assets held in the individual’s name to “pour over” to the revocable trust on death (referred to as a “pour-over will”).  This living trust estate...

Vanilla

•

Apr 18, 2023

  SALT LAKE CITY, UT - APRIL 18, 2023  Vanilla, a leading provider of estate planning solutions, today announced the launch of its new Estate Advisory Platform, the first fully integrated model of an estate, bringing together family, financial, and estate planning data into one place.  The Vanilla Estate Advisory Platform The Vanilla Estate Advisory Platform offers dynamic visualizations of the estate, beneficiary summary and projections, estate tax projections, a dynamic balance sheet integrated with the leading personal finance management tools, and an on-demand report builder. With these features, financial advisors can deliver differentiated advice, expand client relationships, win new...

Vanilla

•

Apr 17, 2023

With your help, we are about to completely reshape how estate planning is done. On May 16th we unveiled Vanilla’s new Estate Advisory Platform, which reimagines how financial advisors, attorneys and their clients approach one of the most important parts of their lives: their legacy.  In this live, virtual launch event: Vanilla CEO Gene Farrell will outline a new vision for estate planning and the role technology will play Hightower Chairman and CEO Bob Oros will speak with Vanilla Co-Founder Steve Lockshin on the changing role of advisors in estate planning Product experts will showcase the new Vanilla platform and...

Vanilla

•

Apr 07, 2023

When it comes to estate planning, there’s no substitute for having the right core legal documents drafted, and ensuring they align with your clients’ wishes. But no matter how carefully estate planning documents are drafted, it’s impossible to anticipate every eventuality – and, the truth is, life often moves faster than clients do when it comes to updating their documents. One great way to bolster an estate plan against the unexpected, and to help trustees make decisions in accord with client expectations, is through Letters of Wishes. What is a Letter of Wishes? A letter of wishes is simply a...

Vanilla

•

Apr 06, 2023

Making lifetime gifts is one of the most common, tried-and-true strategies to reduce estate tax liability. We’ll walk you through the major types of charitable and non-charitable gifts that you might want to consider, as this year draws to an end.

Vanilla

•

Apr 06, 2023

Win new clients by downloading this brandable PowerPoint presentation for client meetings. It can help them understand why estate planning matters and how you, as their trusted advisor, can make the process as simple as possible by using Vanilla.

Vanilla

•

Apr 04, 2023

With Vanilla, advisors can create a new type of deliverable that both clients and prospects have never seen before. Not only does Vanilla help advisors increase the depth of their service offerings, but it also helps an advisor’s client actually understand the full picture of their wealth and legacy. Download a sample report below.

Vanilla

•

Apr 04, 2023

With Vanilla, advisors can create a new type of deliverable that both clients and prospects have never seen before. Not only does Vanilla help advisors increase the depth of their service offerings, but it also helps an advisor’s client actually understand the full picture of their wealth and legacy. Download a sample report below.

Vanilla

•

Mar 08, 2023

They won’t make your clients feel wicked. Still, the seven deadly sins of estate planning may leave your clients vulnerable to several unintended consequences such as probate, loss of assets in a divorce, and avoidable estate tax liability. Financial advisors can help their clients avoid the seven most common estate planning mistakes listed below. Estate planning mistake #1: Not updating estate planning documents regularly Some clients may think that creating an estate plan is a one-and-done proposition, but you should review and update your client’s estate plan with them when they experience any of the following: Major life events: Your...

Vanilla

•

Feb 28, 2023

Once a client has their Last Wills and Testament (“Wills”) and revocable trust created, their financial situation doesn’t just stand still. More often than not, a client’s financial situation will fluctuate throughout their life. A pour-over Will brings added security to an estate plan–making room for all of those potential life changes–by explaining what to do with new and unaccounted assets. This helps keep up with asset changes between times when your client updates wills and trusts. What is a pour-over Will? A pour-over Will is a Last Will and Testament that is used in conjunction with a revocable (a/k/a...

Vanilla

•

Feb 23, 2023

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH, UNITED STATES, February 23, 2023 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Vanilla, a leading estate advisory platform, has been named the winner of the 'Best Newcomer/Startup' category at the Second Annual WealthTech Americas Awards 2023. This prestigious award recognizes Vanilla's dedication to transforming how wealth advisors help their clients with estate planning. Estate planning has emerged as the next frontier of wealth advisory. Consistent and ongoing estate planning helps clients build their legacy, reduce family conflict at death, and minimize estate taxes. Vanilla gives advisors and clients an interactive, visual platform of the complete estate plan so clients can make...

Vanilla

•

Feb 22, 2023

Steve Lockshin unveils his step-by-step approach to building estate planning into your practice in a more meaningful way. How can financial advisors move upmarket and bring more value to clients? With the right approach to estate planning. There’s no better way to differentiate your offering and deepen client relationships. The webinar will give insights into: How to use estate planning to differentiate with UHNW clients How to engage new clients in estate planning, including specific questions to ask A yearly maintenance checklist for existing clients Commonly overlooked issues and ways to protect your clients Download the estate planning playbook here.

Vanilla

•

Feb 16, 2023

A step-by-step checklist to guide your client conversations. This playbook is inspired by the guide used by Steve Lockshin and his firm AdvicePeriod, based on Lockshin’s 30+ years of financial advice and estate planning for some of the most successful ultra-high net worth clients in the world.

Vanilla

•

Feb 14, 2023

A Spousal Lifetime Access Trust (“SLAT”) is an irrevocable trust set up by an individual (the “donor”) during his or her lifetime for the benefit of the individual’s spouse and if, desired, other family members. How does the SLAT Work? A SLAT is created under a trust agreement, which contains the terms of the trust and the name of the individuals or entity that will act as trustee (typically a trusted friend or advisor). A SLAT is funded by way of a gift from the donor to the SLAT. During the donor’s lifetime, the trustee can make distributions to the...

Vanilla

•

Feb 10, 2023

Win new clients by downloading and sending this presentation to potential clients and prospects alike. It can help them understand why estate planning matters and how you, as their trusted advisor, can make the process as simple as possible by using Vanilla.

Vanilla

•

Feb 09, 2023

When it comes to estate planning, “probate” is a term that looms large. You might hear talk of the complexity of probate, or strategies for avoiding probate — but what exactly is it? Put plainly, probate is the legal process that occurs after a person’s death. In probate, the court recognizes the validity of a Last Will and Testament (a “Will”) and appoints a personal representative for the decedent’s estate. The representative – also known as an executor or administrator – pays the decedent’s debts and then distributes the remaining assets to the beneficiaries. Though probate is simple to define...

Vanilla

•

Jan 26, 2023

Irrevocable Life Insurance Trusts (ILITs) are legal vehicles established specifically to own one or more life insurance policies and are set up during an insured’s lifetime. ILITs are created to own a life insurance policy and keep its proceeds out of the insured’s or owner’s estate to avoid increasing the size of their estate when the insured dies. When an individual owns an insurance policy (whether on his or her life or the life of another individual), the insurance policy is included in the individual’s estate at death and is therefore subject to federal estate tax (to the extent the estate exceeds...

Vanilla

•

Jan 24, 2023

If something should happen to your clients, regardless of their age or income, it’s crucial that they have a plan for their financial assets. As their financial advisor, you’re in the best position to keep your clients on task so they can reach their goals and ensure their families are taken care of. But between a myriad of documents, individual state requirements, and shifting federal estate tax laws, it’s no wonder the estate planning process can be overwhelming for financial advisors and their clients. That’s why we’ve created this easy-to-follow estate planning checklist. We’ll give you clear insights into a...

Vanilla

•

Jan 17, 2023

Grantor retained annuity trusts (GRATs) have increased in popularity in recent years because of how effective they are in transferring assets out of estates to beneficiaries in a tax-efficient manner. GRATs allow an individual grantor to transfer an asset’s upside out of their estate, with minimal risk or downside. Using this strategy, the GRAT transfers the initial value of the asset plus a government rate out of the grantor's estate. In brief, to establish a GRAT, a grantor transfers a particular asset(s) into an irrevocable trust and retains an annuity stream for a specified term of years. The annuity amount...

Vanilla

•

Jan 10, 2023

Many people have charitable intentions that they would like to consider as part of their estate planning. However, donating assets outright during their lifetime may not meet their financial goals. A more advanced strategy, such as a charitable remainder trust, may provide the flexibility to meet their personal financial needs while guaranteeing that a charity or charities end up with the remaining asset at the end of the term or when the settlor/donor is no longer living. When to use a Charitable Remainder Trust (CRT): When you are charitably inclined; and, You have highly appreciated securities you would like to...

Vanilla

•

Dec 09, 2022

Learn how FMB Wealth Management tackles the inevitable for clients – death and taxes – in a way that’s not only more efficient, but achieves greater outcomes. And, watch high-level demos of Holistiplan and Vanilla. Grant Blindbury details how he uses both technologies to achieve impactful results Discover how technology plays a key role in delivering differentiating value Watch product demos of Holistiplan and Vanilla

Vanilla

•

Dec 07, 2022

Making lifetime gifts is one of the most common, tried-and-true strategies to reduce estate tax liability. We’ll walk you through the major types of charitable and non-charitable gifts that you might want to consider, as this year draws to an end.

Vanilla

•

Dec 06, 2022

I am not an expert in estate planning. That may be a strange thing to admit for someone who runs a company focused on estate planning. What I do well (and what I find enormously rewarding) is identifying difficult problems, and – with the collaboration of great teams – use technology to solve them. When it comes to identifying which challenges to take on, I am drawn to areas where solving the problem can create real impact for individuals, families, and society. Estate planning is exactly this type of problem because it touches almost everyone. Helping individuals and families define...

Vanilla

•

Oct 28, 2022

Learn how Dogwood Wealth Management created a three-pillar system that addresses client’s financial needs more holistically, for this generation and the next. Jason Newcomer, co-founder of Dogwood Wealth Management, joins Vanilla CMO Jim Sinai to discuss how he has created a process where estate planning–in addition to wealth advisement, risk management and tax planning–plays an essential role. Jason will outline his approach, and how he uses estate planning as a way to foster meaningful ongoing conversations with clients, rather than a set-it-and-forget-it approach. Newcomer will also discuss his tech-forward philosophy on advising, and how he’s developed a tech stack that...

Vanilla

•

Oct 07, 2022

Daniel Gregoire at RightCapital is joined by Vanilla’s Co-Founder Steve Lockshin to discuss the impact of potential tax law changes on estate planning and how it can affect your most valued clients. Innovators like RightCapital allow advisors to differentiate with intuitive financial and tax planning. As Biden approaches approval for new tax law changes, advisors are expected to assist their clients by anticipating and navigating these changes. As the advisor, it’s important you have conversations with your clients to guide them on how to prepare for newer, more stringent tax regulations. The main topics of discussion include: The potential impact...

Vanilla

•

Sep 19, 2022

Tax planning for clients with taxable estates has always been complex. The best way to explain strategies is with diagrams, not documents. That’s why we’ve put together this deck of 10 diagrams to explain some of the advanced strategies and why anyone with $10M in assets should care about estate tax.

Vanilla

•

Aug 04, 2022

Los Angeles, CA, August 4, 2022 - Vanilla, the award-winning Estate Advisory Platform, designed to transform how wealth advisors help their clients manage their estate and build their legacy, announces the addition of Jim Sinai as Chief Marketing Officer and Karen Nachbar as General Counsel. Jim and Karen join following a $30m Series B investment led by Insight Partners to round out a leadership team announced earlier this year and accelerate Vanilla’s growth. As CMO, Sinai will lead the marketing function reporting to Gene Farrell, CEO. Jim brings his extensive background in introducing new software products, launching brands, building demand,...

Vanilla

•

May 25, 2022

How millennials think about wealth management—including estate planning Millennials take their financial lives seriously—and they’re ready to enlist the experts to help. The past few years have seen a lot of change in the financial lives of millennials. The generation born between 1981 and 1996 is approaching their peak earning years and hitting major milestones from having kids to buying houses to starting businesses. According to one report, there are more than 618,000 millennial millionaires in the United States. And with the Great Wealth Transfer on the horizon, millennials are poised to inherit another $68 trillion from their Baby Boomer...

Vanilla

•

Apr 28, 2022

Los Angeles, CA, April 28, 2022 - Vanilla, the award-winning estate and wealth management platform, today announced that it raised $30 million in a Series B funding round led by New York-based global private equity and venture capital firm Insight Partners. Vanilla will use the funding to accelerate product development and support rapid customer adoption as it works to revolutionize how financial advisors and households of all wealth levels build their legacy. Vanilla is seeking to reshape the $180 Billion estate planning industry by offering the first comprehensive, fully digital estate planning platform designed to support the legacy building process...

Vanilla

•

Jan 04, 2022

Los Angeles, CA, January 4, 2022 - Vanilla, the award-winning estate and wealth management platform designed to improve how advisors interact with their clients and prospects announces the addition of three key leaders to drive the next phase of rapid growth. These additions come on the heels of Vanilla’s $14.3 Million Series A closing, led by blue-chip investor Venrock. Gene Farrell has joined as CEO, Amjad Hussain as CTO, and Robin Melnick as SVP of Revenue. All three of these leaders bring extensive experience in building and leading enterprise software companies and will help accelerate the development of the Vanilla...

Vanilla

•

Oct 20, 2021

Easy, effective estate planning can be brought in-house to every advising firm — and it should. By offering personalized plans for all clients (not just the ultra-wealthy), firms can get ahead of the curve, cultivating a multi-generational client base. Vanilla simplifies this often cumbersome process by fusing decades of estate planning expertise with great design, empowering firms of all sizes to grow their offerings at scale.

Vanilla

•

Oct 14, 2021

We are on the brink of the largest transfer of wealth in American history. In the next 25 years, as much as $84.4 trillion from 45 million U.S. households will be passed down from older Americans to their Millennial and Gen X inheritors. This exchange of wealth and change in who the wealthy demographic is will dramatically shift the landscape of wealth management across the U.S. The stakes are high for financial advising firms. Most firms have naturally focused on an older client base since they hold a significantly larger portion of wealth and have a higher interest in investments. If...

Vanilla

•

Oct 07, 2021

Nowadays, it’s not enough to focus your efforts only on investment management for your clients. A recent report from Accenture shows that clients want their financial advisors to offer guidance about complicated life choices. If you’re not delivering value beyond traditional financial planning, you may be missing an opportunity to differentiate in a rapidly changing landscape. This presents an opportunity for advisors to future proof their business and build deeper relationships by providing added tax and estate planning value in their offering. Watch leaders of Just Invest, F2 Strategy, AdvicePeriod, and Vanilla as they discuss how the future of financial...

Vanilla

•

Oct 07, 2021

Thanks to innovators in the advisory space like Betterment, advisors are able to leverage technology to deliver a better experience to more clients. As the landscape continues to evolve, advisors are expected to deliver something technology cannot — a three-dimensional view of your clients’ finances, life and death included. Talking about what happens to one’s financial legacy upon death is an emotional conversation that requires trust and humanity. Fortunately, as the advisor, you’re in the best position to advise a client on their entire financial picture and how planning decisions impact other parts of their family’s finances. In part one...

Vanilla

•

Oct 06, 2021

Estate planning is essential. It is also extremely difficult to understand for most people, including advisors. In this e-book you’ll find a dictionary of terms and definitions most commonly used by estate planning professionals.

Vanilla

•

Oct 06, 2021

Watch Aaron Klein, CEO at Riskalyze, and Steve Lockshin, Co-Founder at Vanilla, talk about what the impact of estate planning has for your clients, how Vanilla delivers a new experience by integrating workflows seamlessly between clients, advisors and attorneys, how Vanilla designed its product to remove UPL risks and more.

Vanilla

•

Oct 06, 2021

Over the past decade, most RIAs have transitioned from an investment focus to a planning focus. But while financial planning has become table stakes for the modern advisor, estate planning remains a powerful means of differentiation. Before coming together to start Vanilla, David Hauser became Steve Lockshin’s client after selling Grasshopper for $170 million in 2015. With estate planning being the focus of the relationship, we will walk through the impact of estate planning from both the client and advisor’s perspective. With estate planning becoming more of a clear differentiator, Steve and David will discuss the current state of estate...

Vanilla

•

Sep 13, 2021

Estate planning is often treated as a “set-it-and-forget-it” topic, but it is vital—especially for wealthy clients—to stay on top of changes in law and in assets because failing to account for current tax law can put your heir’s inheritance at risk of significant reduction. Proposed capital gains tax changes will dramatically shift thresholds, making it more vital than ever for financial advisors to help their clients keep estate plans current and comprehensive. Historically, the step-up basis has been one of the strongest strategies for wealthy individuals to avoid paying capital gains taxes at death, but proposed changes to tax law...

Vanilla

•

Aug 30, 2021

  Disruptive Estate Planning Startup Founded by Steve Lockshin Secures Funding Through Legendary Venture Capital Firm, Launches Partnerships with Orion and Addepar, and Welcomes F. William McNabb III, Former CEO and Chairman of Vanguard Group, as a Director. Los Angeles, CA, August 30, 2021 - Vanilla has raised $11.6 million in a Series A funding round led by renowned venture capital firm Venrock as it helps to revolutionize estate planning for households of all wealth levels and their financial advisors. Vanilla, founded by high-profile financial advisor and wealth management entrepreneur Steve Lockshin, is the first comprehensive, fully digital estate planning...

Vanilla

•

Aug 13, 2021

Ultra-high net worth (UHNW) individuals’ estates are inherently complex and far-reaching, so having a comprehensive estate plan is vital to ensure a smooth transfer of wealth between generations and avoid expensive legal battles at death. But that doesn’t guarantee that these UHNW individuals are any more educated on estate planning processes and pitfalls. Even though 64% of wealthy individuals place a high value on the legacy they can pass on to the next generation, a full 39% do not have a comprehensive estate plan, according to the U.S. Trust Insights on Wealth and Worth. As their trusted financial advisor with...

Vanilla

•

Jul 19, 2021

Deciding who gets what after one’s passing is tough. According to a survey by Caring.com, only 42% of American adults have essential estate planning documents, such as a will or a living trust. People avoid planning for the inevitable for many reasons. But for blended families, a major reason is that estate planning requires more than a simple will. Many difficult questions come up: How do I ensure everyone is well taken care of after I am gone? Should I leave everything to my spouse and hope they take care of my children? How do I avoid disinheriting my children?...

Vanilla

•

Jul 08, 2021

You’ve built a solid financial foundation for your client, made investments with an eye on the future, and helped them strive toward making their financial goals a reality—but what happens once they pass on? Without preparation, the months following a client’s death can be a chaotic mess for a financial advisor. Assets need to be found, collected, and handed over to whoever is handling the estate. You put in hours of work, and in the end, you are left clientless, watching the assets you carefully tended for your client in life tangled in probate court and wasted on fees and...

Vanilla

•

Jun 14, 2021

As the financial planning industry anticipates the Great Wealth Transfer from baby boomers to their heirs, reports show that at least 80% of adult children and heirs will find their own advisors after receiving an inheritance. In other words, if you’re waiting until your client dies to introduce yourself to their family, you’ve waited too long to win their heirs as new clients. But there’s good news: family estate planning provides the perfect opportunity to connect with your client’s family early on and cultivate an ongoing relationship that can extend into the next generation. By anticipating their family’s estate planning...

Vanilla

•

Jun 07, 2021

June 7, 2021. New York, New York. WealthManagement.com has recognized Vanilla, an award-winning comprehensive estate planning platform, as a finalist for its 2021 Industry Awards for the second year in a row. Every year, WealthManagement.com’s Industry Awards recognizes companies that make an exceptional impact in the world of financial advisors. After reviewing hundreds of entries, the judges made up of top names in the industry carefully selected who they believe have supported the success of financial advisors to an outstanding degree. The criteria was based on quantitative measures of their initiatives—such as scope, scale, adoption and feature set—along with qualitative...

Vanilla

•

May 24, 2021

According to a survey from Caring.com, 2021 marks the first year that young adults ages 18-34 are more likely to have a will than those ages 35-54. COVID-19 seems largely responsible for this shift, but the pandemic hasn’t just impacted the younger generation. Participants of all ages agreed that the advent of COVID-19 has caused them “to see a greater need for estate planning.” As a financial advisor, this means you can expect more clients to turn to you for estate planning guidance in the coming days. With this influx of client needs, it’s important that you understand and can...

Vanilla

•

Apr 22, 2021

One of the biggest estate planning mistakes people make is placing the power and responsibilities of a trustee in the wrong hands. Poor fiduciary selection can lead to family in-fighting, lengthy legal disputes, and a substantial loss of assets due to mismanagement. As a relationship-driven financial advisor, it’s essential that you understand the role of a fiduciary trustee and that you help your client select the right individuals or corporations to act as fiduciaries for their estate. A trustworthy, knowledgeable trustee helps safeguard the estate plan from mishandling and assures that beneficiaries get the full value of the assets. What...

Vanilla

•

Apr 14, 2021

April 14, 2021. Steve Lockshin’s Vanilla, a comprehensive estate planning platform, announces the release of “Vanilla 2.0” now available for new and existing users. Vanilla 2.0 is the latest version of Vanilla’s product offering designed to proactively manage the estate planning of an advisor’s entire client base. Vanilla is the first comprehensive estate planning solution that allows advisors to proactively monitor all of their clients, visualize existing planning, and take action through document creation. ‘Because estate planning can be so difficult to understand even with an experienced eye, Vanilla creates a way for us to bring simplicity to an experience...

Vanilla

•

Mar 26, 2021

  Most ghost stories are about unfinished business. Whether it’s a spooky campfire tale or a literary classic from the dark imagination of Edgar Allen Poe, a horror story plotline remains the same: the spirits of the departed haunt the living because there’s an unresolved matter preventing the deceased from moving on. So what does all of this have to do with estate planning? A poorly made or forgotten-about estate plan is like a ghost: It leaves your client and their loved ones vulnerable to hauntings of the financial kind. When people in mourning have to deal with their deceased...

Vanilla

•

Mar 22, 2021

It’s common for clients, financial advisors, and estate planning lawyers to treat estate planning and financial planning as separate entities. But financial plans and estate plans are closely intertwined. Without a well-made estate plan, all the financial goals a client achieves can fall apart. Sadly, a poorly made estate plan often leaves the grieving family to pick up the pieces. You can advise your client on strategies for maximizing assets, but for asset protection, they need an attorney. When financial assets change, so should an estate plan. An attorney can provide the legal expertise by recording and adapting the estate...

Vanilla

•

Mar 08, 2021

Financial advisors faced a down wave of change before the pandemic. Over the past year, that wave grew into a tsunami that continues to test advisor-client relationships. The most resilient firms — those that have retained at least 99% of their clients over the past year — understand the power of prioritizing relationship quality over quantity. According to a 2020 Price Metrix report from McKinsey, advisors with the highest levels of client retention “have deeper relationships and fewer client relationships.” While they serve fewer households, advisors with low attrition rates manage more accounts per household. One of the most powerful...

Vanilla

•

Feb 08, 2021

February 8, 2021. New York, New York.—InvestmentNews has recognized Vanilla as a 2021 Innovation Award finalist. Vanilla, along with twelve other firms, were chosen as finalists from several hundred nominations by a committee of InvestmentNews representatives. The judges recognized firms for their creative and novel systems that help financial advisors take care of their clients, run their businesses, and boost client outcomes. ‘Show your clients you care about more than their money.’ — VANILLA Each of the advisors, executives, and firms who made the fifth annual InvestmentNews Icons and Innovators list were chosen from a rigorous selection process designed to...

Vanilla

•

Feb 02, 2021

Tempted to give your clients free estate planning documents to create a will, trust, or other after-death protections? Think again. Free estate planning documents come with risks that may ultimately cost clients and their heirs more than they saved in legal fees. Let’s take a look at some of the significant — and expensive — problems that using free estate planning documents could cause. 1. Excluding family members from a will Free DIY wills don’t always tailor an estate plan to an individual’s circumstances and goals. This is particularly the case for blended families and new additions when it's easy...

Vanilla

•

Jan 26, 2021

As the U.S. gains a new president and a new majority in the legislative branch, proposed changes to the federal estate and gift tax will transform the way wealth passes from one generation to the next. For wealthier families, this means the loss of allowances they’ve benefited from under a looser estate tax regime. As a financial advisor, the possible changes provide an excellent opportunity for you to deepen relationships with your clients. This quick guide will help you educate them on what to expect and offer guidance on how to navigate newer, more stringent estate tax regulations. Changes in...

Vanilla

•

Dec 21, 2020

An estate plan is the story of someone’s legacy. But for advisors and clients alike, that story is hidden under layers of arcane legal mumbo-jumbo. At Vanilla, we’re using visual design to cut through complicated legalese and illustrate the crucial details of estate plans. We call this simplified, diagrammed approach to estate management “estate reporting.” Using our design studio roots to reimagine estate planning We see many of the broken processes in estate planning as design problems. Most of our founding team have strong graphic design backgrounds, so we approach problem-solving in a more visual way. As designers, our process...

Vanilla

•

Dec 11, 2020

  Imagine that you're having your first consultation with a new client. You ask them whether they have an estate plan in place. They proudly tell you that they drew up a will and assigned guardianship as soon as their first child was born — 25 years ago. Job well done, next question — right? Not quite! Let's examine why treating an estate plan as a one-off task comes with significant risks that could end in nightmare scenarios for your client and their family. 1: Beneficiaries and fiduciaries are often temporary While your client may express a desire to designate...

Vanilla

•

Dec 02, 2020

  With more young adults living with their parents now since the Great Depression, families with college-age children need questions answered about where parents’ legal rights begin and end. As a financial advisor, you should be ready to answer the questions your clients have, such as “how do I get a medical power of attorney?” and connect them with the documents they and their adult children need to protect their families. This concise guide will help you point your clients in the right direction. “What are the legal realities of my child turning 18?” When a young adult turns 18,...

Vanilla

•

Nov 18, 2020

It’s sad and shocking to learn that beloved actor Chadwick Boseman died recently without a will. At no point did he draw up documents to ensure his loved ones knew his wishes for how to handle his near-million-dollar estate after he was gone. Chadwick Boseman is just the latest in an ever-growing list of Black public figures—and famous people from other marginalized groups—who left an enormous positive impact on the world but left legal strife for their loved ones. If so many extraordinarily successful people die without a clear plan for what should happen in the event of their death,...

Vanilla

•

Oct 28, 2020

There are no do-overs when a person needs their estate planning to go into effect. Sure, financial advisors and attorneys can help them plan ahead of time, but when they need their estate plan to kick in, there’s no opportunity for revisions and no last-minute chance for planning. Knowing the impact that a lack of planning can have on a family is why I joined the team that, in 2019, created Vanilla. Vanilla started as a client project at our design studio and has since transformed into a company that makes estate planning more efficient, easier to understand, and accessible...

Vanilla

•

Sep 25, 2020

Who needs estate planning? Everyone. But a lot of people avoid estate planning because they think they’re too young, they’re too busy, they feel estate planning is too expensive or too complicated, they’ve done it once in the past and don’t think they need to again, or they just don’t believe they have anything to plan for. The costs of making excuses not to estate plan can be high. Failure to plan means probate could keep beneficiaries in court for years while their assets are frozen and expenses mount. It could even mean that those they worked hard to take...

Vanilla

•

Sep 16, 2020

As a financial advisor, you may be uncertain about the myriad of estate planning documents clients use, and which to recommend for the best possible financial outcomes for your client. Estate planning documents come in all shapes and sizes, but good planning documents need to address specific, important details. To help you sort through your clients’ paperwork, here’s how to discern if all those forms are well executed, high-quality estate planning documents. High-quality estate planning documents are updated regularly Thinking about the future and completing estate planning documents is an excellent first step, but your client’s financial situation is bound...

Vanilla

•

Sep 11, 2020

September 10, 2020. New York City, New York. - Today, Vanilla was presented with an award from the 6th WealthManagement.com Industry Awards under the category “Disruptors: Technology.” ‘A near record-breaking number of nominations and companies participating in 2020.’ — WEALTHIES The WealthMangement.com Industry Awards recognizes companies that make an exceptional impact in the world of financial advisors. Companies who make a true difference in the day-to-day success of financial advisors. This year, more than 200 companies were nominated across 73 different categories. Companies ranging Carson Group, Fidelity Investments, Morning Star Inc, and more, competing in categories like Asset Managers, Disruptors,...

Vanilla

•

Sep 04, 2020

By the time I sold my third company, Grasshopper, to Citrix in 2015, we had bootstrapped the company from virtually nothing to more than $30 million in annual recurring revenue. We spent 12 years refining our technology and more importantly, helping other entrepreneurs succeed and build their own companies. For many entrepreneurs, selling their company is the end goal. An acquisition by a major multinational might prompt some founders to start thinking how they’d spend their time—and money—once the ink was dry. For me, selling my company made me think about my own death and what I’d be leaving behind—and...

Vanilla

•

Aug 24, 2020

Estate planning is evolving. In a shifting landscape, financial advisors need to demonstrate value to their clients. One of the best ways to help your clients is to educate them about the risks of outdated estate planning documents, which, if left unchecked, can lead to serious consequences for them and their families. Of course, the estate planning process itself is somewhat outdated. Financial advisors often have no visibility into the conversations clients are having with third-party attorneys, creating an opaque, disconnected system with many moving parts. It’s difficult for financial advisors to offer the best advice when they can’t see...

Vanilla

•

May 19, 2020

Thanks to recent technological advances, basic investment management doesn’t cut it for your clients anymore. You’re expected to deliver something technology cannot — a three-dimensional view of your clients’ finances, life and death included. Talking about what happens to one’s financial legacy upon death is an emotional conversation. It requires trust, and it requires humanity. If you can manage to have that conversation, your clients might learn that their investment returns aren’t necessarily worth much to their family without proper estate planning. People who pass away without properly planning their estate leave their family susceptible to years of legal hassle....