State of Estate Planning Report 2026

The emerging trends and sentiments advisors need to know for the coming year

The 2026 State of Estate Planning Report reveals what’s on consumers’ minds as they think about legacy, wealth transfer, and the professionals they trust to guide them.

Vanilla’s third annual survey of 1,000 U.S. consumers uncovers the trends shaping estate planning conversations—and the opportunities advisors can’t afford to miss.

This year’s key findings:

• Nearly all (97%) say discussing estate plans with loved ones matters—but a gap exists between intention and action
• 8 in 10 expect their financial advisor to offer estate planning, either directly or through collaboration
• 84% are open to AI-assisted planning when a professional is involved
• Passing down values ranks as the #1 priority beyond financial assets (40%)
• A notable gender gap: women place higher value on family communication yet are less likely to lead planning decisions

The 2026 report explores what’s driving these sentiments—from concerns about heir readiness to the rise of “practice inheritances” to shifting expectations around technology and advisor roles.

Click here to see the full, un-gated report.