Vanilla

Jun 13, 2025

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Setting the Standard with Steve Lockshin

Setting the standard in estate planning: From experience to innovation

When Steve Lockshin—ranked the #1 financial advisor in the country by Barron’s—founded Vanilla, he didn’t set out to build just another software platform. He set out to solve a problem he lived every day: the complexity of managing ultra-high-net-worth (UHNW) estates.

With over 35 years of experience advising the wealthiest families in America, Steve knew the stakes. From generation-skipping transfer tax planning and state estate taxes to derivative strategies and complex fiduciary structures—these aren’t theoretical problems. They’re daily realities.

That’s why he built Vanilla: the platform that transforms real-life expertise into an intuitive, powerful experience for advisors at every level.

“I don’t just build software—I live in it. I work directly with these complex clients, reviewing their documents, stress-testing their plans, and pushing the product to be better every week. No competitor can say that.”
— Steve Lockshin, Founder, Vanilla

It’s this authenticity—real expertise turned into usable innovation—that sets Vanilla apart. Just ask the advisors using it:

“We rolled out Vanilla for our practice this year, and it’s been a tremendous success. Great value add for our clients and another way for us to differentiate.”
— Aaron Leatherwood, Partner | Centerpiece Wealth Advisors

“Vanilla is the embodiment of what makes you such an exceptional advisor to the ultra wealthy—a brilliant engine that transforms complexity into clarity.”
— Ron Albahary, CIO | LNW

Steve didn’t just set the standard for estate planning—he’s living proof of it. With Vanilla, advisors don’t get theory. They get a product forged in the real world, tested with billions in estate value, and trusted by top firms nationwide.

Vanilla: Setting the standard in estate planning.