Tag: Advisor Enablement

The Role of an Executor

No one gets married planning for divorce—but failing to plan can leave assets vulnerable. In this episode, Thomas Kopelman, Anne Rhodes, and Dave Haughton dive into why prenuptial agreements (prenups) are a key estate planning tool, not just a safeguard for the ultra-wealthy. They break down the difference between community and separate property, how prenups protect business owners, and what happens if you don’t have one in place. They also discuss post-nuptial agreements, common misconceptions, and how advisors can guide clients through these crucial conversations.

Spotify, Apple Podcasts or anywhere you listen to podcasts.

For any questions, email us at [email protected].

When Someone Goes Missing: How to Confirm a Death Without a Last Known Address

It’s the kind of estate question that’s both oddly common and incredibly difficult to answer: What if someone disappears—and no one knows if they’ve died?

A client recently faced exactly this. Her daughter, named as a beneficiary on her estranged father’s retirement account, was contacted by the financial institution holding the funds. They couldn’t locate him—and neither could she. Their question was simple but unsettling: Is he deceased? And, if so, how can she get a death certificate to move forward?

What AI Says — and Why It’s Not Enough

We posed this question to two leading AI engines. The answers pointed to familiar tools:

  • Social Security Death Index (SSDI)
  • Ancestry.com
  • FamilySearch.org 

These are decent starting points, especially for genealogical research. But here’s a few nuances those AI tools don’t know:

  • SSDI is outdated. It only covers deaths reported to the Social Security Administration (SSA) and typically ends in 2014 for publicly accessible records.
  • The real-time data is locked away. The SSA’s modern death database—the Death Master File (DMF)—is restricted. Only “certified” institutions, such as major banks and insurers, can access it.
  • Even private tools like Ancestry.com rely mostly on public obituaries and grave data—not official government death records. 

So What Can You Actually Do?

  1. Check if you have any connections to “certified” entities. The National Technical Information Service (NTIS) keeps a public list of institutions certified to access the DMF. If you or your client has ties to one, they may be able to help.
  2. Work with an attorney. Attorneys with access to legal research tools like WestLaw PeopleMap may be able to perform more sophisticated searches or petition for information directly from the SSA.
  3. Request records from local counties. For more recent events (as opposed to genealogical searches), death records are usually held by the county where the death occurred—which is exactly the problem if the last known location is unknown. In these cases, a hired attorney can write to multiple counties or file court petitions to aid in the investigation.
  4. Understand the time barrier. Free archival sites like FamilySearch only make death records available after several decades—typically 50 to 75 years postmortem.
  5. Petition the court. If all else fails, and and a person has been missing for an extended period, some states allow for a court petition to have them declared legally deceased, which can serve as a substitute for a traditional death certificate. There are formal procedures to declare someone legally deceased after a period of disappearance (often 5–7 years).

 

The Value of Legal Insight—and Human Support

This is exactly the kind of situation where AI, while incredibly valuable, may fall short in some respects. These tools can point to public resources—but they can’t always navigate the legal gray areas, interpret the rules, or advocate on your behalf.

At Wealth.com, we bridge that gap. Our Attorney Network provides the kind of practical, real-world support financial advisors need when their clients face complex estate planning questions—especially those that require more than a database search.

Hear from a customer who recently leveraged the Attorney Network, Jared Tanimoto, CFP®, Founder & Financial Planner at Sedai Wealth:

“I actually had a great experience using Wealth.com recently with a client in Hawaii. We were setting up a trust, and as part of the process needed to retitle their home. Hawaii has a unique system called Land Court, which adds an extra layer of complexity to the titling process. Wealth.com connected both me and my client to a local Hawaii estate attorney who understood the nuances of Land Court and handled everything smoothly. The coordination was seamless, and it made the client experience feel really polished.”

Whether you’re trying to confirm a death, resolve beneficiary questions, or support a family in transition, our platform doesn’t just give you the tools—it connects you to the people who know how to use them.

The Why Behind Estate Planning

The inheritance tsunami is already rolling in

Roughly $124 trillion is projected to move from Baby Boomers to Gen X and Millennials by 2048, an amount larger than the current U.S. GDP. Cerulli projects that Gen X and Millennial wealth will quintuple by 2030, yet a staggering 81% of heirs say they won’t keep their parents’ advisor. If estate plans aren’t part of your process, you’re standing on the sidelines of the greatest wealth transition in history.

Clients are still unprepared, and they know it

Despite the looming transfer, 72% of Americans lack an up-to-date will, and more than one-third have already witnessed family conflict because a plan was missing. They recognize the risk. 52% of Americans say dying without a plan is “irresponsible,” but they need a guide who can turn intent into action.

Managing the estate planning process positions you as the financial “quarterback”

Advisors are unique in that they sit at the intersection of legal, tax, and family dynamics. When you coordinate those conversations and orchestrate attorneys, CPAs, and family decision-makers, you don’t hand clients off and hope the ball comes back to you. You cement your role at the center of a client’s wealth universe.

Because you’re the only professional with a full 360-degree view of legal, tax, and family dynamics, clients see you as the indispensable coordinator of their legacy strategy.

A proven growth lever: estate planning as a door opener, relationship deepener, and ROI driver

Talking legacy reframes meetings from performance to protection: 40% of investors would switch advisors just to access estate-planning services, and 71% of U.S. adults say finishing a plan would make them feel like a better parent or partner.

Once implemented, estate planning removes friction and builds multi-generational trust.

  • One per week: Archer Investment Management guided 35 clients through Wealth.com in the first 35 weeks of adding the service. Read the success story here.
  • Workshop machine: Fiat Wealth Management booked 579 prospects and captured $39M+ in new assets by hosting estate-planning events. Read the success story here.
  • Hidden opportunities: Estate reviews surface undisclosed assets and new planning needs, protecting AUM and revealing upsell paths.

From hand-off to hands-on: the integrated digital flow

The old “Here’s a lawyer; call me when it’s done” referral breaks the client journey. A modern, advisor-led workspace keeps everything collaborative, trackable, and branded to your firm. It also is exactly the level of service and guidance clients are looking for.  

A year-one roadmap you can steal today

Top firms plug estate planning into their service calendar: Diagnose → Document → Share → Maintain. Those four touchpoints alone can drive double-digit plan completions in 12 months.

Ready to act? Start tomorrow with three simple moves: segment your book, engage the best-fit clients first, and host a family-legacy meeting to meet the next generation.

Download our “Estate Planning Quick-Start Checklist,” a step-by-step reference that shows you exactly how to add estate planning to your firm and keep your advisor seat at the center of every family’s financial future.

Get the Quick-Reference Checklist here.

Wealth.com makes adding estate planning to your firm’s service offerings seamless. It provides an advisor-led digital workspace that is collaborative and trackable where advisors can create high-caliber estate planning documents in minutes with optional legal review. A real-time status tracker, secure document vault, and role-based access keep heirs, attorneys, and CPAs aligned, and estate planning shifts from a one-off project to a repeatable, revenue-generating workflow.

 See the Wealth.com platform in action at www.wealth.com/demo.

 

What the One Big Beautiful Bill Means for Advisors And Clients

Signed into law on July 4, 2025, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act brings sweeping and permanent changes to the tax code. Whether you find it beautiful or not, the law is here, and it’s here to stay, at least until Congress says otherwise.

At Wealth.com, our job is to help you cut through the noise and understand what matters to you, your clients, and their long-term planning. Below is a breakdown of the key provisions, ranked by relevance to financial advisors.

1. Estate Tax Exemption Increased

Effective 2026:

  • $15 million per person exemption (indexed for inflation), or $30 million per couple with portability.
  • Modestly higher than the current $13.99M exemption.

Why it matters:

  • Ultra-HNW families now have added breathing room.
  • We don’t know where the political landscape will be in future years, so advisors should revisit gifting, trust strategies, and dynasty planning to take advantage of the unprecedentedly high exemption level

2. SALT Deduction Cap Increased but Be Careful

The SALT deduction cap rises to $40,000, but phases out between $500k and $600k AGI. It sunsets after 2029.

Why it matters:

  • For high-income clients in high-tax states, $500k–$600k AGI is a major planning danger zone.
  • Marriage penalty remains (thresholds not doubled), so filing strategies may need a fresh look.

3. Ordinary Income Tax Brackets Made Permanent

The current seven-bracket system (10%, 12%, 22%, 24%, 32%, 35%, 37%) is now permanent.

Why it matters: 

  • Offers long-term visibility for Roth conversion strategies, bracket management, and retirement distributions.

4. Bonus Depreciation & Section 179 Expansion

Bonus Depreciation: Permanently reinstated at 100% for assets placed in service after Jan 20, 2025.

Section 179:

  • Max deduction: $2.5M
  • Phaseout starts at $4M

Why it matters:

  • Business-owner clients have powerful new tools for capital expenditure and tax strategy.
  • Time to revisit cost segregation studies and acquisition planning.

5. QBI Deduction Extended But Still Mostly Off-Limits to Advisors

The deduction is now permanent, and the income phaseout range is modestly expanded, but most white-collar professionals (advisors, CPAs, attorneys) remain excluded.

Why it matters:

Most advisors still won’t qualify, but many business-owner clients will. This can be a prompt to revisit income levels, entity structure, and whether clients are leaving deductions on the table.

6. Trump Accounts: New Child-Focused Savings Vehicle

  • $5k annual contributions allowed before child turns 18
  • IRA-like tax treatment (no upfront deduction)
  • Employers can contribute $2,500 tax-free for dependents
  • IRS pilot program contributes $1,000 for 2025–2028 births

Why it matters:

  • A brand-new vehicle for education and long-term child savings strategies
  • Strong planning opportunity for multigenerational wealth discussions

7. Standard Deduction + New Senior Deduction

New standard deduction (2025):

  • MFJ: $31,500
  • Single: $15,750
  • HOH: $23,625

New Senior Deduction: $6,000 per taxpayer age 65+, phases out above $150k MFJ / $75k others, expires 2028

Why it matters:

  • Seniors near the phaseout cliff need modeling
  • Great lead-in for broader retirement income planning

8. Child & Adoption Credits Expanded

  • Child Tax Credit: $2,200 per child, inflation-adjusted, and permanent
  • Adoption Credit: Now partially refundable (up to $5k) starting 2025

9. Car Loan Interest Deduction (2025–2028)

  • Deduct up to $10,000 annually for new car loans only (no leases & other stipulations)
  • Phases out above $200k MAGI MFJ, $100k others

10. Student Loan Repayment: Employer Benefit Made Permanent

Employers may contribute up to $5,250 annually toward employee student loans tax-free

Why it matters:

  • Business-owner clients can enhance benefit offerings
  • Great way to attract and retain younger talent

11. 529 Plan Qualified Expenses Expanded

529 plans may now be used for a broader set of K‑12 and homeschool-related expenses, including:

  • Curriculum and instructional materials
  • Books or digital educational content
  • Tutoring and outside‑home educational classes
  • Testing fees
  • Dual enrollment tuition
  • Educational therapies and adaptive learning tools

Why it matters:
 529 accounts have become more versatile – they’re not just for college. This opens up powerful opportunities for families funding private school, homeschooling, supplemental learning, or special education. Smart planning here can help manage overfunded balances and support long‑term multigenerational strategies.

What’s Next:

Hear from Sr. Corporate Counsel, Dave Haughton, JD, CPWA® 

We hosted a special webinar session, “The One Big Beautiful Bill: What Every Advisor Needs to Know,” led by Wealth.com’s Sr. Corporate Counsel, Dave Haughton, JD, CPWA®.

Watch the Recording Here

Send Key Takeaways to Your Clients

Looking for a resource to send directly to clients and prospects as a helpful resource? We have a client-friendly downloadable PDF with all the relevant estate and tax planning highlights from the Big Beautiful Bill.

Download the Client Takeaways PDF Here 

The tax code may have changed, but the core of great advising hasn’t. In a sea of new rules and revised deductions, your role as a trusted guide is more important than ever. The advisors who lean in now, who anticipate, educate, and elevate, will be the ones who grow deeper client loyalty and lasting impact. At Wealth.com, we’re equipping you with the tools to turn complexity into confidence, and deliver lasting legacies for your clients.

Navigating the Line Between Tax and Legal Advice

No one gets married planning for divorce—but failing to plan can leave assets vulnerable. In this episode, Thomas Kopelman, Anne Rhodes, and Dave Haughton dive into why prenuptial agreements (prenups) are a key estate planning tool, not just a safeguard for the ultra-wealthy. They break down the difference between community and separate property, how prenups protect business owners, and what happens if you don’t have one in place. They also discuss post-nuptial agreements, common misconceptions, and how advisors can guide clients through these crucial conversations.

Spotify, Apple Podcasts or anywhere you listen to podcasts.

For any questions, email us at [email protected].

Trusts, Titling & Tough Calls: A Practical Q&A

No one gets married planning for divorce—but failing to plan can leave assets vulnerable. In this episode, Thomas Kopelman, Anne Rhodes, and Dave Haughton dive into why prenuptial agreements (prenups) are a key estate planning tool, not just a safeguard for the ultra-wealthy. They break down the difference between community and separate property, how prenups protect business owners, and what happens if you don’t have one in place. They also discuss post-nuptial agreements, common misconceptions, and how advisors can guide clients through these crucial conversations.

Spotify, Apple Podcasts or anywhere you listen to podcasts.

For any questions, email us at [email protected].

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