Vanilla

Jan 27, 2026

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Estate Planning Trends in 2026: Key Themes from Vanilla’s Annual Report

When clients come to their advisors about estate planning, they’re rarely asking about trusts and tax brackets first. They’re asking: Will my kids be okay? Will my spouse be taken care of? Will the business I built survive me? Will my family stay close when I’m gone?

Estate planning lives at the intersection of money and meaning. It asks clients to confront mortality, navigate family dynamics, and articulate what legacy truly means to them. Few other services offer advisors such an intimate window into their clients’ lives.

This year, we surveyed over 1,000 U.S. consumers to understand how they think about estate planning, and what they expect from the advisors who guide them. Here’s what we found.

The conversations families aren’t having

Almost everyone believes they should talk to their loved ones about estate planning. Almost no one actually does, at least not in any depth.

The intention is there. The action isn’t. And the reasons aren’t surprising: it’s uncomfortable to think about death, awkward to talk about money with family, and easy to put off a conversation that doesn’t feel urgent until it suddenly is.

This is where advisors make a difference. Not just in the documents they help create, but in the conversations they help families have. The ones that have been avoided for years, and the ones that prevent conflict and confusion later.

What clients actually want to pass down

Ask someone what they want to leave behind, and the answer usually isn’t a dollar amount.

It’s values. Principles. The lessons they learned the hard way. A sense of responsibility. The hope that their children will be ready—not just financially, but emotionally and practically—to handle what they inherit.

Parents worry about whether their kids are prepared. They wonder if an inheritance will help or hurt their motivation. They think about fairness between siblings, and what happens if one child needs more support than another.

These aren’t questions a legal document can answer. But they’re the questions that keep clients up at night. The advisors who engage with them, who help clients think through not just what to leave but how and why, build relationships that go far deeper than portfolio management.

The role clients want advisors to play

Clients already trust their financial advisor with their financial life. Increasingly, they expect estate planning to be part of that relationship, not something they have to figure out separately.

They’re not looking for their advisor to replace their attorney, but they are looking for someone to lead the process. To bring it up before it’s too late, and to help them see how estate planning connects to everything else they’re working toward.

The advisors who embrace this see the difference. They become the person families turn to during life’s biggest transitions, not just for investment advice, but for guidance on what really matters.

Technology frees advisors for what matters

When clients say they’re comfortable with technology in estate planning, they’re not asking for a chatbot to replace human judgment. They’re asking for their advisor to have more time for them.

Technology handles the routine work like document gathering, calculations, administrative tasks. This frees advisors to focus on what matters: navigating family dynamics, thinking through strategy, helping clients work through the emotional weight of deciding who gets what and when. 

Technology clears the path so advisors can show up where it counts.

See the data behind the insights

The 2026 State of Estate Planning Report is based on a survey of over 1,000 U.S. consumers. Inside, you’ll find the data behind these themes—what clients prioritize, what concerns them about wealth transfer, how they view advisors versus attorneys, and where they stand on technology’s role in the planning process.

Download the full report to explore the findings.

The information provided here does not constitute legal, financial, or tax advice. It is provided for general informational purposes only. This information may not be updated or reflect changes in law. Please consult with an estate attorney, financial advisor, or tax professional who can advise as to your particular situation.