Vanilla Blog

Steve Lockshin

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Jun 27, 2025

The recent headlines surrounding Jimmy Buffett’s $275 million estate are not just tabloid fodder—they’re a case study in what happens when good planning on paper meets the unpredictability of human relationships and unclear expectations. While we don’t yet know the full facts, what’s emerging is an all-too-familiar theme: a fight over control of a legacy that was likely intended to bring comfort, not conflict. Buffett was known for living life on his own terms, building an iconic brand that fused music, real estate, hospitality, and culture. He also did what many high-profile individuals do: he put his assets into a...

Karen Nachbar

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Jun 26, 2025

As Chief Legal Officer at Vanilla, I speak with customers frequently about the risk that the unauthorized practice of law (UPL) presents for wealth advisors. Balancing UPL risks as we build product is top of mind for our incredible team at Vanilla. We include thoughtful guardrails but also provide flexibility to our customers who can decide for themselves how to best mitigate their risk. What is UPL, and why should you care? UPL is giving legal advice when you’re not a lawyer. Every state has its own definition of UPL, but generally speaking, it includes: Drafting or preparing legal documents...

Jessica Lantz

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Jun 24, 2025

June brings powerful new changes to help you calculate, collaborate, and customize like never before. This month’s releases are focused on delivering a more intuitive and frictionless experience for both you and your clients.  Unified Vanilla Experience: Everything in one seamless workflow The Problem: Vanilla users often work across multiple functions, requiring a unified interface that supports their diverse responsibilities. The Solution: Access all client functions from a single, intuitive dashboard that adapts to your workflow needs Enjoy streamlined document management with a simplified upload process—add files directly and choose your next steps, whether that's AI summaries, abstraction requests, or...

Vanilla

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Jun 24, 2025

BELLEVUE, Wash.-- Vanilla, the category-defining estate planning platform for financial advisors, announced today that Emily Tran has joined the company as Vice President of Marketing. Tran will lead all facets of Vanilla’s marketing strategy, with a focus on driving awareness, deepening advisor engagement, and accelerating adoption of the platform across the wealth management industry. Tran brings over 10 years of financial services marketing experience to the role, most recently serving as Head of Marketing at Practifi, a CRM platform for advisory firms. Prior to that, she held senior marketing positions at Morningstar, where she led integrated campaigns that supported product...

Vanilla

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Jun 24, 2025

Estate planning can be complex—but a revocable trust (also known as a living trust) offers a flexible, effective, and increasingly popular solution for managing and distributing assets. A revocable trust is a legal entity you create during your lifetime to hold and manage your assets, which you can change or revoke at any time. It provides control while you're alive, protection during incapacity, and streamlined asset transfer after death. Whether you're a high-net-worth individual or simply looking to protect your family, understanding the benefits of a revocable trust is essential. Below are ten compelling reasons to consider adding one to...

Vanilla

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Jun 17, 2025

Introduction Survivorship life insurance, often referred to as second-to-die insurance, is a specialized form of life insurance that covers two individuals—typically spouses—and pays out a death benefit only after both have passed away. While this policy type may not be as widely discussed as traditional single-life insurance, it plays a pivotal role in strategic estate planning, especially for high-net-worth couples. This article explores how survivorship life insurance works, its unique benefits for estate planning, how it compares to single-insured policies, and when it’s most effectively utilized. We’ll also examine optimal funding structures and common pitfalls to avoid. Whether you’re a...

Vanilla

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Jun 13, 2025

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...

Steve Lockshin

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Jun 11, 2025

For advisors working with very wealthy families, understanding the hierarchy of estate planning tools is essential to structuring optimal, tax-efficient, and flexible multigenerational plans. Here’s a practical framework to guide your thinking. To dive deeper, download How Vanilla Helps Advisors Plan Across Generations here. Start at the top: GST-exempt trusts Generation skipping transfer tax-exempt trusts are the gold standard for multigenerational wealth transfer. When properly structured, a GST-exempt trust: Is exempt from transfer taxes for generations—forever Can include a spouse as a beneficiary, providing flexibility and access Is highly effective for multi-generational planning when situs is established in favorable jurisdictions...

Vanilla

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Jun 02, 2025

Estate planning is one of the most important—and frequently overlooked—aspects of a client’s financial life. Despite its importance, a significant number of adults don’t even have a basic will in place. This gap represents both a risk to clients’ families and a tremendous opportunity for advisors to deepen relationships by addressing a crucial area of need. While estate planning conversations can feel awkward or emotional, avoiding them may result in confusion, unnecessary expenses, or the client’s final wishes not being carried out. When advisors take the lead in these discussions, they provide peace of mind, safeguard client legacies, and position...

Vanilla

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Jun 02, 2025

June 2, 2025 — Vanilla, the most trusted estate planning platform for advisors, was named a finalist in four categories at the 2025 WealthManagement.com Industry Awards, recognizing our continued innovation and impact in estate planning software. Now in its 11th year, the “Wealthies” honor outstanding organizations and individuals that support financial advisor success. Vanilla has been recognized in estate planning across the following categories: Advisor Service and Support: Document Abstraction Services Implementation: Vanilla Academy Technology: V/AI Copilot Thought Leadership: The State of Estate Planning Report 2025 “These recognitions affirm what we’ve known from the start—that modern estate planning requires tools...

Jessica Lantz

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May 28, 2025

Vanilla's newest innovations are here! This month's feature releases represent a significant leap forward, combining cutting-edge functionality with the seamless experience you’ve come to expect. Salesforce Integration: Serve more clients with ease  The Problem: Manual data entry prevents advisors from scaling their estate planning practice efficiently. The Solution: Import your client list from Salesforce into Vanilla instantly Eliminate hours of manual data entry Maintain synchronized, up-to-date client data across both systems, reducing potential errors in client communications Enhanced Groups: Scale securely across teams The Problem: Client data is highly sensitive, and firms need to ensure only authorized users can access...

Madison Eubanks

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May 22, 2025

Making plans for what happens after you’re gone can be uncomfortable and even frightening—but in the long run it’s one of the most important things you can do for your loved ones. Leaving behind a will is the best way to ensure your wishes are followed and that your family isn’t left making difficult decisions with no guidance.  Wills are essential tools in estate planning, and there are several different types to be aware of. Choosing the right type of will depends on your own personal, financial, and familial circumstances.  Not all wills are the same; different types serve different...