Professional Estate Planning Software: 6 Questions to Ask Before You Invest

Choosing the right estate planning software can significantly shape the future of your practice.

As more legal and financial professionals shift to digital solutions to streamline client services, manage documents securely, and ensure legal compliance, the stakes in choosing the right platform have never been higher.

But with so many options on the market, how do you know which one is the best investment for your business?

Helping your clients come up with solid estate planning solutions is an important and growing part of many financial planning firms.

From navigating complex client needs to managing sensitive documents and ensuring legal compliance, estate planning requires precision, customization, and a high degree of organization.

Let’s look at six of the most essential questions that will help you evaluate your options and ensure your investment pays off in the long run.

Question #1: Is the Software Designed Specifically for Estate Planning?

Financial planners must be versed in a variety of software in order to effectively manage the diverse aspects of their clients’ financial lives.

From investment tracking and portfolio analysis to retirement projections and tax drafting software, each component demands its own set of digital tools.

Document Organization:

Opt for estate planning software that offers secure, centralized storage for all estate planning documents. While most estate documents will be drafted by law firms, this makes it easy for both you and your clients to access, update, and manage plans over time.
Whether clients have worked with estate lawyers (elder law attorneys) or used an online will-making tool for drafting documents, keeping everything in a single, secure hub ensures alignment across their financial and estate strategies.

Estate Reports:

Choose platforms that allow you to quickly review and analyze key estate planning factors—such as last wills, revocable living trusts, healthcare directives, durable powers of attorney, and all other forms of client intake documents.
This real-time visibility enables you to identify gaps, overlaps, or missing components in a client’s overall plan. Some tools also allow secure sharing with an attorney when legal insight or updates are needed.

Beneficiary Review Tools:

High-quality software should include beneficiary tracking features like automatic alerts for outdated or mismatched designations, visual overviews of assignments, and time stamps showing when each designation was last reviewed.
A centralized dashboard makes it simple to spot inconsistencies and address them efficiently, helping reduce the risk of errors and ensuring that a client’s intentions are properly reflected.

Asset Diagrams:

Look for visual planning tools—such as interactive diagrams or inheritance flowcharts—that clarify how assets will be distributed.
These visuals can simplify complex ownership structures, highlight missing beneficiaries, and ensure that digital and non-traditional assets aren’t overlooked. For clients, this kind of clarity can build confidence in the plan and facilitate important family discussions.

You may also benefit from using adaptable software for estate planning that adjusts to client complexity and evolving estate needs.

Question #2: How Secure Is Client Data?

For financial planners, the security of a client’s information is non-negotiable. From personal information to asset protection, it’s important that all software platforms you use offer robust, enterprise-grade protections to safeguard sensitive data.

Here are a few questions to ask before you commit to a specific estate planning software solution:

Is the data encrypted? This ensures that sensitive client information is protected from unauthorized access both while stored (at rest) and while being transmitted over the internet (in transit), reducing the risk of data breaches.

Is the data encrypted? This ensures that sensitive client information is protected from unauthorized access both while stored (at rest) and while being transmitted over the internet (in transit), reducing the risk of data breaches.

Does it support multi-factor authentication (MFA)? MFA adds an extra layer of security by requiring users to verify their identity through a second method (like a phone or app), which helps prevent unauthorized access even if a password is compromised.

Question #3: Is It Cloud-Based or Desktop Software?

In today’s mobile world, cloud-based solutions offer flexibility, accessibility, and easy collaboration.

But some estate planning professionals (and their clients) may also want the control and familiarity that comes with a desktop-based platform—especially if they’re working in environments with limited internet access or have heightened concerns about storing sensitive data online.

Make sure you know the answers to the following before you invest in a particular estate planning software system:

Do you need remote access for team members or estate planning clients?

If you collaborate across locations or want clients to securely review documents online, remote access is essential—look for a cloud-based or hybrid solution.

How does the software handle backups and updates?

The best platforms offer automatic backups and seamless updates to ensure your data stays safe and your tools stay current, without IT headaches.

Will you need to install and maintain it on each device?

Desktop-only solutions may require manual installs and updates on each computer, while cloud-based systems typically run in browsers and require no local setup.

Question #4: Does It Support Client Collaboration?

Estate planning is a collaborative process that often involves task management among multiple parties—clients, estate planning attorneys, financial advisors, and sometimes family members.

You will want estate planning software that has:

• Role-based access ensures the right people have the right level of permissions.
• Shared project dashboards to track progress.
• Built-in chat or messaging features for client communications.

Question #5: What’s the Cost—and What’s Included?

When it comes to any sort of software, the costs can vary widely

Start by evaluating the pricing model and then dig into the details:

What’s included?

While document management, client portals, and reporting tools should come standard, it’s still a good idea to find out the specifics of a software system.

Are there hidden fees?

Some platforms charge extra for premium templates, e-signature integrations, onboarding, or even customer support.

Do you get updates and support?

Make sure your subscription includes regular feature updates, security patches, and access to a support team if needed.

Is there a trial or demo available?

Getting hands-on experience with the platform can reveal whether it will integrate well with your practice management software and truly meet your estate planning needs.

Question #6: What Kind of Customer Support and Training Is Available?

Even the best estate planning software can come with a learning curve.

Find out the following before you make a decision on which software to integrate into your practice:

Is live support available?

Knowing when and how you can reach support is crucial—especially if you run into technical issues while meeting with a client. Extended or 24/7 support can be a lifesaver for time-sensitive matters.

Is onboarding, training webinars, and/or tutorials available?

Strong onboarding resources help you get up and running quickly while minimizing disruption to your workflow. Webinars and tutorials can also help you and your team unlock advanced features over time.

Is there a dedicated account manager or customer success rep?

Having a single point of contact can often mean you’ll receive more personalized service and strategic guidance, especially when scaling your use of the platform or facing complex issues.

Grow Your Estate Planning Practice with Holistiplan

As a seasoned financial planner, your expertise is your cornerstone.

But even the most experienced professionals need the right tools to stay competitive and deliver exceptional value.

Holistiplan is estate and tax planning software that’s designed to complement your skills—streamlining estate planning tasks, increasing efficiency, and deepening your impact on client relationships.

By incorporating a modern, intuitive platform like Holistiplan into your workflow, you can simplify complex processes, collaborate more effectively with attorneys and stakeholders, and dedicate more time to what matters most: your clients.

To streamline your workflow even further, explore our all-in-one will and estate planning software financial planners built for modern advisory firms.

Reach out today to see how this all-in-one platform can elevate your estate planning services—and unlock new possibilities for your practice.