3 Ways Technology Helps Clients Stop Delaying Their Will

One of the biggest financial risks families face is the assumption that estate planning can wait. Many delay creating a will because they view it as costly, complicated, or overwhelming. In fact, a 2025 estate planning study found that complexity and cost are the top barriers that cause clients to put off estate planning. The reality is that postponing these decisions can leave families exposed at the worst possible time.

The good news is that technology is removing many of these traditional hurdles. Digital estate planning tools are helping clients move from hesitation to action. Here are three key ways they can leave families exposed at the worst possible time: 

1. Simplifying a Process That Feels Overwhelming

One of the biggest hurdles for clients is the belief that estate planning requires mountains of paperwork or is only for the wealthy. Digital platforms address this by breaking the process down into clear, guided steps. Rather than legal jargon, clients see simple questionnaires that walk them through essentials at a pace they can handle.

“These tools help clients see estate planning as approachable and achievable, not intimidating,” explains Chitra Patel, CFP®, CPWA®, Founder of WealthWorth. And as Tim Woodward, CFP®, CKA®, MBA, President at Blend Wealth, has observed, “the structure of digital platforms gives clients the accountability they need to stay engaged and make confident decisions.”

As advisors, we can use this technology to help clients overcome that initial sense of overwhelm and reframe estate planning as an accessible, everyday part of their financial life.

2. Meeting Clients Where They Are

Time is often just as big of a barrier as complexity. For many families, scheduling time with an attorney means childcare, rearranging work commitments, and added stress. By contrast, digital tools allow clients to create key documents from home, on their own schedule, and even pause and return later.

Flexibility like this “is huge for busy families who can’t always align with traditional attorney hours,” says Charles Thomas III, CFP®, Founder of Intrepid Eagle Finance. And, as Al Faber, CFP®, Founder of DIWY Financial Planning adds, “the ability to screen share and walk through questions together in real time eases the stress clients usually associate with estate planning.”

This flexibility is critical in helping clients move forward. Meeting them on their terms not only makes the process easier, it also builds trust, showing them that estate planning can work around their lives (instead of the other way around).

3. Turning the First Step Into Momentum

The hardest part of estate planning is often just getting started. But once clients complete that first digital will, they quickly see that it’s doable, not intimidating. According to the 2025 estate planning study, clients who used digital platforms reported greater peace of mind (49%) and found the process easier (48%), making them more likely to complete their plans and stay engaged with their advisor.

“The hardest step is the first step,” says Bob Chitrathorn, CFP®, CPFA®, Co-Founder & CFO of Simplified Wealth Management, who finds that once clients realize how fast and simple it can be, momentum builds toward naming guardians, setting up trusts, and creating a fuller estate plan.

That momentum matters. By helping clients experience an easy win at the outset, advisors can transform estate planning from a dreaded task into an empowering, ongoing part of their financial journey.

The Bottom Line

Estate planning no longer has to feel like an intimidating process reserved for later in life. Technology is making it possible for clients to protect their families in ways that fit their lifestyle and their budget today. Advisors have an important opportunity to guide clients toward that first step, and thanks to digital tools, it’s never been easier to turn intention into action. And with the 2025 estate planning study showing 59% of advisors see higher client satisfaction and 56% report stronger retention after offering digital estate planning, the case for adopting these solutions has never been stronger.

Diana Cabrices is the founder and chief executive officer of Diana Cabrices Consulting and acting chief evangelist at Trust & Will, an estate planning platform.

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