Vanilla Guides and Reports

Vanilla

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Mar 26, 2026

The retention risk hiding in your existing book of business Most advisors don’t intend to leave one partner out of the conversation. But it happens in nearly every practice — and the cost shows up years later, when it’s too late to fix it. Research shows 70-80% of widows leave their advisor within a year of their spouse’s death. Not because of performance. Because no real relationship existed with the surviving spouse in the first place. With $124 trillion changing hands over the next 25 years, and women set to inherit approximately 70% of it, the advisors who build relationships...

Vanilla

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Mar 12, 2026

What women want from estate planning conversations — and what most advisors are missing. Vanilla’s Women & Wealth Survey asked 502 U.S. women who are the primary financial decision-makers in their households about estate planning: what they prioritize, where they feel prepared, and what they wish their advisors understood. The findings reveal a gap that’s bigger than most advisors realize, and more actionable than they might expect. This year’s key findings: Nearly 1 in 3 women with a financial advisor say estate planning has either never come up or they had to raise it themselves 46% say protecting their family...

Vanilla

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Jan 22, 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...

Vanilla

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Jan 06, 2026

A step-by-step checklist to guide your client conversations, updated for 2025. This playbook is inspired by the guide used by Vanilla founder Steve Lockshin and his advisory firm AdvicePeriod, based on Lockshin’s 30+ years of financial advice and estate planning for some of the most successful ultra-high net worth clients in the world.

Vanilla

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Oct 31, 2025

Making lifetime gifts is one of the most common, tried-and-true strategies to reduce estate tax liability. We’ll walk you through the major types of charitable gifts that you might want to consider, as this year draws to an end.

Vanilla

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Oct 07, 2025

Not all estate planning software is created equal. Find out what to look for to ensure the estate planning software you’re considering meets your needs.

Vanilla

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Aug 22, 2025

How to turn estate planning into a sustainable growth engine for your advisory firm

Vanilla

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Jul 11, 2025

Making lifetime gifts is one of the most common, tried-and-true strategies to reduce estate tax liability. We’ll walk you through the major types of non-charitable gifts that you might want to consider, as this year draws to an end.

Vanilla

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May 30, 2025

For high-net-worth families especially, estate planning represents the pinnacle of long-term wealth preservation, a foundational element of comprehensive financial planning services.