Tag: Estate Planning

Wealth.com and AcquireUp Partner to Turn Estate Planning Seminars Into a Scalable Growth Engine for Advisors

PHOENIX, Ariz., and TROY, Mich. — May 20, 2026 — Wealth.com, the industry’s leading estate and tax planning platform, today announced a strategic partnership with AcquireUp, a technology-first seminar marketing company for financial professionals. The partnership is designed to help financial advisory firms grow through estate planning-led seminars that drive stronger engagement, higher conversion and more durable client relationships. As part of the engagement, advisors who leverage AcquireUp’s Estate Planning seminar campaign package will receive access to Wealth.com, enabling immediate implementation. Together, Wealth.com and AcquireUp will provide advisors with dedicated seminar content, presentation materials, marketing enablement and acquisition strategy, offering a more integrated approach to turning seminar events into client relationships.

Seminars remain one of the most effective ways for advisors to build trust with qualified prospects and achieve reliable organic growth at scale. This is supported by AcquireUp’s 2026 Industry Index, which finds educational and meal-based seminars account for 25% of benchmark production. Estate planning has emerged as a leading entry point for these conversations, offering a subject that is both broadly relevant and personally meaningful across the net worth spectrum.

As $124 trillion is expected to transfer between generations in the coming decades, advisors are also placing greater emphasis on engaging the next generation of clients earlier. Estate planning provides a natural way to initiate those relationships, creating continuity across generations and expanding the scope of the advisor-client relationship over time. This partnership reflects that shift, aligning client acquisition with planning and delivery in a single, coordinated approach.

“Advisors are looking for more effective ways to differentiate and create meaningful client conversations, but too often those conversations don’t translate into action,” said Tim White, Co-Founder and Chief Growth Officer at Wealth.com. “Estate planning is one of the few areas of planning that resonates with nearly every client and naturally leads to deeper client relationships. This partnership gives advisors a proven framework to not only lead with estate planning, but to deliver on it consistently and turn that engagement into long-term client relationships.”

AcquireUp brings significant scale and experience to the partnership, having worked with more than 9,500 financial professionals, facilitated more than 160,000 seminars and engaged over 3.7 million prospects. Based on AcquireUp’s proprietary seminar data, advisors who lead estate planning seminars and leverage Wealth.com’s platform see a $21,000 revenue advantage per campaign, a new revenue stream through estate documents, and a 33% increase in advisory clients.

“We’ve seen firsthand that the right seminar content drives real results,” said Greg Bogich, Chief Executive Officer at AcquireUp. “This partnership equips advisors with content that performs and a proven approach to lead with estate planning and engage the next generation of clients in a more structured and effective way. Ultimately driving strong return on investment and reliable organic growth.”

To learn more, Wealth.com and AcquireUp hosted a webinar on June 3, 2026 to demonstrate how advisors can implement estate planning-led seminars and integrate planning into their growth strategy. Watch the replay here.

 

 

About Wealth.com

Wealth.com is the industry’s leading estate and tax planning platform, empowering thousands of wealth management firms to modernize how planning guidance is delivered to clients. Purpose-built for financial institutions, Wealth.com is the only tech-led, end-to-end platform that enables firms to scale estate and tax planning with efficiency, consistency and measurable client impact.

Trusted by some of the largest names in finance, Wealth.com combines proprietary AI, enterprise-grade security, and deep legal and tax expertise to support the full spectrum of client needs—from foundational estate plans to advanced estate and tax analysis and reporting. With the introduction of Wealth.com Tax Planning, firms can deliver more integrated, proactive planning through a single platform. Wealth.com has been widely recognized for innovation and leadership, earning Top Estate Planning Technology and Top Estate Planning Implementation at the 2025 WealthManagement.com Industry Awards, as well as the #1 estate planning market share in the 2025 Kitces AdvisorTech Study.

 

About AcquireUp

AcquireUp is a data-driven seminar marketing services company dedicated to helping growth-minded financial professionals attract, connect with and engage high-quality leads. Based in both Troy, Mich. and Tampa, Fla., AcquireUp’s core services include lead-generating seminars and client engagement solutions, all supported by a comprehensive technology platform that provides audience transparency and streamlines campaign management. Backed by deep experience, AcquireUp offers proven seminars on topics such as Estate Planning, Social Security, Taxes in Retirement, College Planning and Medicare. By removing the stress of marketing, AcquireUp enables over 2,800 advisors annually to focus on what they do best – building meaningful client relationships. For more information, visit acquireup.com.

How to Get Estate Planning Documents Notarized

So you’ve created, or updated, your estate planning documents. Congratulations! You’re at the final stretch but there’s one more important step you may need to take: Your documents need to be signed and notarized.

Getting your documents notarized serves a few purposes but the most important one is that without getting notarized, they may not be considered legally valid. That could open your estate up to potential probate proceedings or other court challenges.

We recommend following this process:

  1. After drafting your estate plan in Wealth.com, select Mobile Notary from the Validation Services menu. If you own property and are interested in funding your trust, we also offer this option within the Validation Services menu.
  2. Submit a mobile notary order and our preferred provider, Sign Here Ink, will contact you to coordinate a time and location that’s convenient to you. If you need witnesses, they can help with that too!
  3. Your notary will scan your validated documents and upload them into your wealth.com Vault for security and accessibility.

Below we’ll detail more about the process, our recommendations and answers to common questions.

What does it mean to get estate planning documents notarized?

Getting a document notarized is when a notary public certifies the authenticity of signatures on a document. Typically, the process involves:

  • Identity verification. The notary verifies that the person signing is who they claim to be. They typically ask for identification in the form of a driver’s license or passport.
  • Witnessing the signature. A notary also needs to witness first-hand the person signing the documents willingly and not under coercion. Some states may require additional witnesses.
  • Notarial seal and signature. After the notary confirms the above, they include their signature and their official or stamp confirming that the document is now legally valid and credible.

Why is a notary needed?

The primary reason for getting documents notarized is for your protection. First, to ensure that documents aren’t fraudulently signed in your name. For example, somebody signing a will in your name that you did not actually sign—like something out of a movie plot.

Second, to ensure that the documents are recognized by the legal system if, and when, they need to be executed. The last thing you want to happen with your estate plan is for there to be unnecessary legal action because the validity of the documents you signed is questioned. By getting documents notarized, when they need to be executed there is confirmation that you have willingly signed them and they can be legally executed because you followed your state’s regulations for getting them notarized.

How can I get my documents notarized?

Requirements for how to get documents notarized vary by state. Each state has its own laws and regulations governing how notarization works. Differences between states may include identification requirements you can use or if you need additional witnesses as well as training requirements for notaries themselves.

If you need to notarize your documents, you can actually order a mobile notary directly within Wealth.com. We offer a nationwide network across all 50 states of trust-certified notaries who can meet you at a preferred date, time, and location. Your advisor doesn’t need to coordinate this appointment, since our mobile notary preferred provider, Sign Here Ink, manages all orders and scheduling. Our mobile notaries also bring printed copies of your documents to the appointment, so there’s no need to print them yourselves. Once the appointment concludes, the notary will leave the original documents with you to keep and scan a digital version for your advisor same-day to download. It’s that simple! If you’re a Wealth.com user, you can learn more about how to request a mobile notary your Help Center or by asking our AI assistant. 

You can also find a notary at a local UPS or FedEx location. Banks also often have notaries on staff, although you may need to be a customer to use them. You can also search online for local notaries near your home. Note that these options might not have trust-certified notaries who are experts in estate planning documents, which is why we recommend using our mobile notary service.

If your advisor already has an in-house notary, you can also choose the Print & Ship option in your Validation Services menu where printed copies get sent to your address and details for getting them notarized in your state will be included.

Are online notary services also available?

Online notary services are legal to use in some states but you should use caution if you choose to use one. That’s because while they can legally operate in some states, there still may be legal requirements that could conflict or create confusion with the use of an online notary.

For example, New Jersey allows remote ink-signed notarization but doesn’t recognize remote online notarization—the difference being the need for a wet signature. However, that ability to get it remotely can easily cause confusion.

Furthermore, some online notary services may not accurately follow state-specific instructions if they operate in multiple states, opening you up to potential issues in the future.

Legislation in a number of states is likely to continue to be updated, with the hope that remote online notarization becomes a simpler process. We are actively monitoring legislation across the country and will notify you—via instructions when it’s time to sign your documents—if remote online notarization is allowed in your state.

Until then, we do recommend an in-person notary as the best way to ensure that you minimize any potential legal issues if, and when, your documents are executed in the future.

Can I get my documents notarized in another state?

It’s recommended that you follow your state regulations and also discuss with your notary. Technically, a notary can legally notarize documents from any state as long as the notarial act occurs in the state in which they were commissioned because notaries are typically only verifying the signer’s identity and not the document itself.

However, best practice would be to confirm with the notary that they don’t believe this would be an issue. We also recommend extreme caution in this instance that the document is being notarized according to the instructions of the state they were produced in.

What if someone named in my estate plan is also a notary?

It’s not usually recommended that any interested party notarize or witness any estate planning documents.

Certain states will strike the nomination as executor or gift to a beneficiary if a witness is the individual named as either. Even without a specific statutory prohibition in a given state, it opens the door for all kinds of litigation arguments around undue influence and capacity in execution

From Fragmented to Fully Integrated Planning with Premier Planning Group

 

Mike Weckenbrock, a financial planner and attorney, shares how Wealth.com transformed his practice by bringing estate planning in-house. By replacing a slow, expensive, and fragmented traditional model, Wealth.com enables him to deliver a seamless, client-friendly experience while maintaining legal integrity with attorney-built, state-specific documents. The platform simplifies workflows, removes client friction, and allows advisors to offer truly holistic planning. For Mike, it has become one of the most impactful tools in his practice, helping him elevate his value and better serve clients.

The Advisor’s Guide to Separate and Community Property: Navigating State Borders and Tax Benefits

A client moves from Texas to New York. Another inherits assets in Florida. A third is going through a divorce. In each case, the same question quietly determines the outcome: is the asset Separate Property (SP) or Community Property (CP)?

 

1. The Two Systems: Community vs. Common Law

The U.S. is divided into two primary legal frameworks for marital property. Understanding which applies to your client is the first step in any plan.

Community Property States (The “Partnership” Model)

  • Primary States: AZ, CA, ID, LA, NV, NM, TX, WA, WI.
  • Philosophy: Marriage is a 50/50 partnership. Most assets acquired during marriage are owned equally by both spouses, regardless of whose name is on the title.
  • The “Double Step-Up”: Under IRC § 1014(b)(6), when one spouse dies, 100% of the community property receives a step-up in basis to fair market value. This can wipe out massive capital gains for the survivor—a benefit not automatically available in common law states.

Common Law / Separate Property States (The “Title” Model)

  • States: The other 41 states (e.g., NY, FL, IL, OH).
  • Philosophy: Ownership is generally determined by how the asset is titled. If it’s in the Husband’s name, it’s his property.
  • The “Single Step-Up”: At death, typically only the deceased spouse’s interest in the property (usually 50% if held as joint tenants) gets a basis step-up.

 

2. Managing Separate Property in a Joint World

A common pain point for advisors is managing “Separate Property”—assets owned before marriage or received via gift/inheritance.

The Gold Standard for Advisors: Keep it separate. If a client receives a $1M inheritance and deposits it into a joint checking account used for household bills, that asset has likely been commingled. In many jurisdictions, once assets are commingled, they are presumed to be marital or community property, losing their protection in a divorce or from a spouse’s creditors.

How Wealth.com Solves This:

Our platform is designed to accommodate both property types within a single Joint Revocable Trust structure.

  • Delineation: Our trust agreements include a “Character of Property” clause. As long as the underlying accounts are properly labeled, the trust respects the asset’s original character (SP vs. CP).
  • Naming Conventions: To prevent accidental commingling, our Trust Owner’s Manual guides clients on how to title accounts (e.g., “Jane Doe, Separate Property Sub-Trust”) to maintain legal boundaries while keeping everything under one “roof.”

 

3. The “Tax-Only” Community Property Trap

Clients in common law states often envy the “double step-up” tax advantage. This has led to the rise of Community Property Trusts (CPTs) in “opt-in” states like Alaska, Florida, Kentucky, South Dakota, and Tennessee.

While these trusts aim to grant common-law residents the tax benefits of CP, advisors must be wary:

  • Legal Consequences: You cannot usually opt-in to the tax benefits without also opting-in to the legal burdens. In California, for example, transmuting property to CP means it is subject to a 50/50 split in divorce—no “tax-only” exceptions.
  • Enforceability: Agreements that attempt to claim CP for the IRS but disclaim it for creditors or divorce are legally fragile. Courts often find that if you tell the IRS it’s community property, it’s community property for all purposes.

 

4. When the Rules Change: Relocation

One of the most overlooked risks is “migratory property.”

  • CP to Common Law: If a couple moves from Texas (CP) to Florida (Common Law), their assets usually retain their community property character (and the double step-up potential) unless they affirmatively change them.
  • Common Law to CP: Conversely, many CP states use “Quasi-Community Property” rules, which treat common law assets as community property if they would have been CP had the couple lived there originally.

 

5. Advisor Summary Table

IssueCommunity Property StatesCommon Law / Separate Property States
Step-up in Basis100% of CP gets a step-up at 1st death (IRC § 1014(b)(6)).Only the decedent’s portion gets a step-up.
Creditor AccessCreditors can often reach all CP for one spouse’s debt.Creditors generally only reach assets titled to the debtor spouse.
DivorceOften a strict 50/50 split of all community assets.“Equitable Distribution” (fair, but not always equal).
Best StrategyUse Transmutation Agreements sparingly and with counsel.Consider Opt-In Community Property Trusts for high-basis assets.

 

Sources:
  1. Internal Revenue Service. (2024). Publication 555: Community Property.
  2. Cornell Law School. (2026). 26 U.S. Code § 1014 – Basis of property acquired from a decedent. Legal Information Institute.
  3. American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC). (2025). What is Community Property? Resource Center.
  4. California Legislative Information. (2026). Family Code Sections 850–852: Transmutation of Property.
  5. Goosmann Law Firm. (2025). Community Property vs. Separate Property from an Estate Planner’s Perspective
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