From Passwords to Crypto: What Every Advisor Must Know About Digital Legacy Planning

Presentation Description:

Today’s estates extend far beyond traditional assets, and financial advisors are increasingly confronted with digital blind spots that can undermine even the most thorough plans. This session will explore the growing role of digital assets in legacy planning — from email, cloud accounts and subscription services to cryptocurrency and NFTs — and the unique legal and logistical challenges they present. Attendees will learn how laws such as the Revised Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act (RUFADAA) intersect with platform terms of service and why overlooking these factors can create costly gaps for clients and their families.

We’ll also highlight practical tools and advisor-ready strategies for initiating digital legacy conversations, organizing client information, and safeguarding access. By addressing this often-missing piece in estate planning, advisors can reduce client risk, strengthen trust and deliver the comprehensive guidance today’s digital world demands.

3 Learning Objectives:

Define and categorize the types of digital assets most likely to affect estate and legacy planning, from online accounts to cryptocurrencies.

Evaluate how current fiduciary laws (including RUFADAA) and platform policies impact advisor responsibilities and client outcomes.

Apply practical strategies and tools to help clients prepare, organize, and communicate their digital legacies in a way that reduces risk and enhances trust.