Vanilla
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May 22, 2026
How to Use Estate Planning to Close Clients Faster
Closing a prospect in the first meeting is a learnable skill. The problem is that almost no one teaches it. So advisors schedule a second meeting. Then a third. And somewhere along the way, the prospect goes quiet and they never really know why. In this session, Erin Botsford, CFP®, in partnership with Vanilla, shares the exact approach advisors can use to close prospects of any size, from $500,000 to $30 million, in a single meeting. Her secret weapon: estate planning. Advisors will learn how to: Master the exact steps of a first-meeting close that works every time Use estate...
Vanilla
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Jun 09, 2026
UPL 101 for Advisors: Understanding the Line Between Information and Advice
Estate, trust, and tax planning sit right where financial advice meets the practice of law, and that overlap is exactly where unauthorized practice of law (UPL) risk lives. The line between sharing helpful information and giving legal advice is easy to blur, and getting it wrong can carry real consequences. Join Karen Nachbar, Chief Legal Officer of Vanilla, and Erica Ellis, Associate General Counsel, Estate and Tax Product, for a practical session on where that line falls and what it means for advisors supporting clients through estate planning. We’ll define what UPL actually is and why advisors are uniquely exposed,...
Vanilla
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Oct 16, 2025
Redefining Advisor Value: A Conversation on Productivity, Pricing, and Moving Upmarket
Join industry thought leaders Michael Kitces and Steve Lockshin for a live fireside chat and Q&A on Nov. 13th. They’ll unpack the evolving landscape of financial advice—from the realities of advisor productivity to the enduring importance of estate planning. In an era where advisors are expanding their services and redefining value, Kitces and Lockshin will explore what it really takes to move upmarket, scale efficiently, and deliver deeper client impact. Drawing on decades of experience, they’ll separate myth from reality around fee compression, discuss how holistic planning drives growth, and highlight why estate planning remains a cornerstone of exceptional client...
