Vanilla, a Bellevue, Washington-based estate planning platform, announced it has been granted a U.S. patent for its event-based resource allocation system, a breakthrough in estate planning technology for financial advisors. The patented system leverages machine learning and real-time event processing to automate and enhance estate planning processes, addressing longstanding challenges in the $221 billion industry.
U.S. patent granted for Vanilla’s event-based resource allocation system
Utilizes AI and real-time processing for dynamic estate planning
Automates report generation, waterfall calculations, and visualizations
Supports 10,000+ clients, from $1M to $1B+ in net worth
Partners include Vanguard, Mariner Wealth Advisors ($560B AUM), and Avantax
Backed by $85M from Insight Partners, Edward Jones Ventures, and others
The patented system, developed by inventors including CTO Amjad Hussain, transforms static estate documents into dynamic, responsive plans. It uses rule-based and machine learning models to process and visualize resources in real time, adapting to life events and regulatory changes. Key features include:
Automated Visualizations: Converts complex legal documents into interactive diagrams, simplifying client understanding.
Waterfall Calculations: Dynamically computes asset transfers across beneficiary structures.
AI-Powered Opportunity Discovery: Identifies planning opportunities, enhancing advisor-client conversations.
Real-Time Updates: Adjusts estate models instantly based on document-driven inputs.
“This patent represents years of innovation in solving one of the most persistent challenges in estate planning—keeping plans current and accurate in an ever-changing world,” said Hussain.
Vanilla’s technology addresses the inefficiencies of manual estate planning, which often leaves plans outdated due to changing circumstances or regulations. “Our patented technology doesn’t just digitize the existing process, it fundamentally reimagines how estate planning should work,” said CEO Gene Farrell. The platform reduces administrative burdens, enabling advisors to deliver tailored plans with unprecedented efficiency.
Since its 2019 founding by Steve Lockshin, Vanilla has grown tenfold, serving clients from small RIAs to major firms like Mariner Wealth Advisors, which reported a 200% revenue growth increase among advisors using Vanilla. The platform’s integration with eMoney Advisor, announced in October 2024, further streamlines data sharing and plan synchronization.
The $59 trillion wealth transfer projected over the next two decades underscores the need for modern estate planning solutions. Vanilla’s platform, backed by $85 million from investors like Insight Partners, Venrock, Edward Jones Ventures, and Michael Jordan, positions it as a leader in the rapidly growing estate tech market, with a 259% increase in advisor adoption over two years, per the T3 survey.
A 2025 Vanilla survey of 1,000 Americans revealed 60% of Millennials work with financial advisors, but only 38% consult estate planners, highlighting a gap Vanilla aims to fill with its advisor-led approach.
Vanilla’s innovations, including V/AI Copilot and Vanilla Document Builder, enable advisors to generate on-demand trust documents and summaries, driving up to 50% AUM growth for high-adopting firms. Its partnership with Vanguard, launched in 2024, enhances digital estate planning for Personal Advisor clients.
Vanilla’s U.S. patent solidifies its role as a pioneer in modernizing estate planning, empowering advisors to deliver scalable, AI-driven solutions for wealth transfer and legacy building.
Vanilla is the modern estate planning platform built for financial advisors. By transforming complex legal documents into clear, interactive visuals, Vanilla enables advisors to deliver more personal, impactful conversations around legacy, wealth transfer, and generational planning. With deep integrations, intuitive workflows, and expert support, Vanilla helps advisors bring estate planning into the heart of holistic financial advice.
TechIntelPro empowers B2B technology decision-makers with the latest industry trends, deep insights, leadership perspectives and actionable intelligence to drive both organizational and professional milestones—and thrive on the tech pulse.