Tech provider Vanilla unveils estate planning scenarios tool

Tech provider Vanilla unveils estate planning scenarios tool
The platform’s latest offering lets advisors clearly visualize the potential tax impact of GRATs, SLATs, and other planning strategies.
MAR 12, 2024

Estate planning technology firm Vanilla is looking to shake up the wealth landscape with a new planning visualization tool. The platform’s latest offering, Vanilla Scenarios, seeks to modernize how advisors, wealth planners, and estate lawyers plan and optimize their clients' estate strategies.

With dynamic, real-time scenario modeling, the tool enables the integration of various planning strategies into existing estate plans, allowing for a more informed decision-making process.

Wealth managers using the tool can dynamically simulate multiple estate planning strategies, such as grantor retained annuity trusts, spousal lifetime access trusts, irrevocable life insurance trusts, and qualified personal residence trusts.

By showing how GRATs, SLATs, ILITs, and QPRTs can potentially mitigate estate taxes, advisors using Vanilla Scenarios can present clients with a clear view of their planning options, according to the firm.

It also lets users visualize the possible impact of significant life events and legislative changes – the anticipated 2026 sunset of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, the death of a spouse, or the sale of major assets – and access on-demand educational material to help clients understand estate planning concepts.

"Vanilla Scenarios takes proactive estate advisory to the next level, offering a comprehensive planning experience that empowers advisors, planners, and estate attorneys to deliver actionable estate advice, educate clients on the value of additional planning, and minimize both state and federal tax implications," said Gene Farrell, CEO of Vanilla.

Vanilla come a long way since its launch in 2019. Over the years, it has secured funding through a series of financing rounds, with investors including basketball legend Michael Jordan.

In October, it jumped on the artificial intelligence trend with a suite of tools powered by its own purpose-built AI model, VAI.

Earlier this year, the wealth tech provider got a huge vote of confidence from Vanguard, which announced that it will be making Vanilla’s digital estate planning tools more widely available to high-net-worth investors after a successful pilot program in 2023.

Here’s why family governance plans are key for estate planning

Latest News

Schwab advisor arrested for domestic violence charges
Schwab advisor arrested for domestic violence charges

Terrance L. Hayes was arrested April 20 and charged with two felonies.

Most Americans are at risk of outliving their retirement savings
Most Americans are at risk of outliving their retirement savings

People are living longer, but new research warns that many may outlive their savings.

OECD maps AI’s biggest job risks but LPL’s chief economist sees potential upside
OECD maps AI’s biggest job risks but LPL’s chief economist sees potential upside

Dr Jeffrey Roach says a 19th-century paradox explains why efficiency gains may lift labor demand.

Why strategy matters more than performance
Why strategy matters more than performance

In volatile markets, the advisors who win aren't the ones with the best calls - they're the ones whose clients stay the course.

When Growth Outruns the System
When Growth Outruns the System

According to Flyer Financial Technologies, rising portfolio complexity is exposing the limits of legacy infrastructure and widening the gap between automation and reality

SPONSORED When Growth Outruns the System

According to Flyer Financial Technologies, rising portfolio complexity is exposing the limits of legacy infrastructure and widening the gap between automation and reality

SPONSORED Why strategy matters more than performance

In volatile markets, the advisors who win aren't the ones with the best calls - they're the ones whose clients stay the course.