Vanilla Blog

Vanilla

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Mar 10, 2026

The Wealth Engineering Family of Companies (WE) is pleased to announce the inclusion of the Vanilla patented estate planning platform as a core component ORLANDO, FL, UNITED STATES, March 10, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- The Wealth Engineering Family of Companies (WE) is pleased to announce the inclusion of the Vanilla patented estate planning platform as a core component of its Expert Sourcing Consortium; synchronized with our other expert sourcing firms and our elastic infrastructures – The FusionPowered Wealth Advisor and OpenOption Practice Engineering Dashboards. "The top-tier firms that we consult with build practices that go beyond investing, they advise on the...

Vanilla

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Mar 09, 2026

The partnership gives Vanilla customers access to the first personalized tax planning tool for advisors BELLEVUE, WA – March 9, 2026 Vanilla, the most trusted modern estate planning platform for financial advisors, today announced a partnership with Worthy, the AI-native tax intelligence platform built for financial advisors. Together, Vanilla and Worthy help advisors surface opportunities, deepen client conversations, and deliver more value across both estate and tax planning. Worthy will be available to Vanilla customers at special pricing. Tax and estate planning are deeply intertwined — the same life events that shape a client’s estate plan carry significant tax implications...

Sarah D. McDaniel, CFA

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Mar 02, 2026

As snowbirds enjoy their annual migration to warmer climates, most are focused on escaping icy roads and enjoying sunshine. But there's a critical financial consideration that many overlook: state estate taxes. With an estimated $124 trillion in assets transferring to younger generations over the next two decades, and states increasingly turning to wealth taxes to fund growing priorities, understanding the state tax implications of owning multiple properties has never been more important. The snowbird's dilemma: when a client’s winter paradise becomes a tax trap The appeal of owning a second home in Florida, Arizona, or another warm-weather destination is undeniable....

Jessica Lantz

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Feb 25, 2026

This month's releases are about removing friction—the kind that slows advisors down before they ever get to the work that matters. From smarter AI verification to an upgraded integration, February's updates are built around one idea: your time is better spent on clients, not on your tools. Here's what's new. Source tracking for all of VAI’s work: Trust every insight, across every document The challenge: When V/AI generates a full estate summary, advisors need to know exactly where each insight is coming from. Manually cross-referencing AI-generated insights against a stack of documents takes away time advisors should be spending on...

Vanilla

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Feb 24, 2026

For RIA principals and wealth management firm leaders, estate planning software is a strategic investment that will shape how your team delivers advice, deepens client relationships, and scales personalized planning across your firm. Depending on the platform you choose, estate planning software can create a significant competitive advantage, enabling advisors to deliver sophisticated estate strategies efficiently and helping clients clearly see the impact of complex plans.  Within this framework, we’ll explore how to evaluate estate planning platforms through the lens of what your firm needs to grow while bringing more value to clients. Why choosing the right estate planning software...

Vanilla

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Feb 16, 2026

As investment management becomes increasingly commoditized through low-cost index funds and robo-advisors, firms need strategies that deliver value to clients beyond portfolio construction.  Leading firms are finding that bringing estate planning in house as a core service offering enables them to provide the holistic guidance today’s clients are looking for, while also acting as a powerful growth and retention tool. Estate planning turns advisors from portfolio managers into indispensable financial partners, positioning them to guide clients through legacy planning, tax optimization, and wealth transfer strategies. Overwhelming research indicates clients are looking for this kind of comprehensive experience: 95% of investors...

Vanilla

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Feb 10, 2026

According to Spectrem Group research, 93% of people want estate planning services from their financial advisor but only 22% are actually getting that advice. That’s a massive gap between client expectations and reality; one that presents a compelling opportunity for the advisors willing to close it. Estate planning can deepen client relationships and lock in loyalty for multiple generations. When you help someone think through what happens to their wealth after they're gone, you're talking about family, values, and legacy, a fundamentally different conversation than the quarterly portfolio review. Most advisors already know estate planning is a critical part of...

Jessica Lantz

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Feb 05, 2026

2025 was a groundbreaking year at Vanilla. We fundamentally changed how advisors approach estate planning, from announcing our patented estate planning technology to reimagining scenario modeling from the ground up. There’s been a lot to celebrate. We welcomed almost 400 new customers. Over 22,000 new estates were modeled with Vanilla, and we delivered over 60 revolutionary new features to make estate planning easier than ever.  Let's walk through the major milestones that shaped 2025. Auto-abstraction In February, we launched auto-abstraction through Vanilla Document Builder. Advisors are saving hours per client by having Vanilla automatically generate professional estate diagrams when clients...

Vanilla

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Feb 03, 2026

In case you missed it, Vanilla's 2026 State of Estate Planning Report is out, and it's packed with insights about how consumers really think about estate planning. This annual survey of over 1,000 U.S. consumers explores how people view legacy, family dynamics, and the role of advisors and technology in the planning process. The full report is worth a read, but here's a skimmable roundup of some of the findings that stood out most. Read the complete, ungated State of Estate Planning report here. Estate planning, family, and values Estate planning is personal. It's less about tax optimization and more...

Sarah D. McDaniel, CFA

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Feb 02, 2026

February's designation as American Heart Month offers more than a themed social media post, it's an opening to facilitate crucial conversations that deepen client relationships and establish trust with the next generation. The heart month hook: from health to healthcare planning Every February, Americans are reminded to prioritize heart health, scheduling checkups, improving diets, and reducing stress. It's a month dedicated to prevention and preparedness. Yet while clients may dutifully schedule their cardiology appointments, most haven't had equally important conversations about what happens if a health crisis does occur. This disconnect creates an opportunity for advisors. The national focus on...

Jessica Lantz

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Jan 28, 2026

January brings powerful upgrades that streamline how you manage complex estate data and present plans to clients. From flexible Balance Sheet organization to AI transparency and dynamic estate visualizations, these releases help you work more efficiently while delivering exceptional client experiences. Balance Sheet grouping: Organize complex data with ease The challenge: Estates with numerous assets create lengthy Balance Sheets that make it harder to highlight what matters most and understand critical financial information at a glance. The solution: Create custom groups to consolidate similar assets or accounts into single, collapsible line items, reducing visual clutter  Quickly expand grouped items to...

Vanilla

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Jan 27, 2026

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...