Managing Your Digital Estate
May 27, 2021
Experienced estate planners and financial advisors will be familiar with a paper society and the tangible methods needed to do a stellar job. Over the years, society has transformed from paper to digital, and this has disrupted the industry.
Learning to manage your client’s digital estate is essential to stay ahead of the competition and do your work effectively. The transition to managing digital estate may present a few challenges, but there are effective digital solutions to make the conversion a breeze.
The Shift from Paper to Digital Society
Thirty years ago, the World Wide Web went live to the world. Since then, technology and communication have developed at a rapid rate. The cellular evolution followed and before long, cryptocurrency became a common trade.
In 2020, the global digital asset management market reached a value of US $3.88 Billion. This figure is estimated to grow dramatically during 2021 – 2026. The emerging trend of digitization is driving growth.
There are several benefits to planning for digital assets, including;
- An easy process for executors and family members
- Prevent identity theft
- Prevent the theft of content
- Avoid losing the story of the deceased
- Prevent private information from being leaked
In the past, these benefits didn’t carry the same weight as they do today. In the process, the job of the fiduciary has become significantly more challenging.
The Rise of Digital Assets
As technology has developed, assets and estate have taken on a new form. While the likes of tangible assets such as property and jewelry will always be around, there’s been an increase in digital assets that are a part of our everyday lives.
Most adult internet users have not considered their digital legacy, and only 13% aged between 50-64 have made mention of their digital estate in their will.
Examples of digital assets include;
- Digital devices such as tablets, laptops, cell phones, thumb drives, portable hard drives, and even cloud storage
- Online accounts such as online banking, subscriptions, streaming services, social media accounts, and business subscriptions
- Electronic files such as digital photographs and videos, intellectual property, and cryptocurrencies
Learning to manage these digital assets is important to provide direction, maintain security and legally define beneficiaries. As an estate planner and financial advisor, it’s important to make your client feel at ease.
Challenges and Solutions to Manage Digital Estate
While digitization has certainly diversified assets, it’s also presented considerable challenges to a fiduciary’s ability to settle an estate.
Legislation Surrounding Digital Accounts
Digital assets are ever-expanding. In the process, they can present several legal speed bumps along the way. As digital estate planning is a relatively new event, the legislation is still catching up.
Most legislation pivots around privacy concerns, but digital estates are not always limited in this regard. In addition, the terms and services of the digital account provider can present a few unique challenges.
This challenge can be solved by taking an inventory of all digital assets. A trustee can be appointed to manage all of these digital accounts, and a digital estate solution can help to catalog and track these digital assets.
Solutions
Utilizing a Digital Estate Protection service such as Noni enables you to protect your Digital Legacy effectively and efficiently. As a result, you’ll have peace of mind that your Digital Legacy will be taken care of.
About Noni
At Noni, we strive to provide assistance in navigating the complex realm of digital affairs of the Estate. Our mission is to:
- Empower consumers to plan for the disposition or transfer of their digital assets. Ensuring their wishes are respected and their loved ones are supported during a difficult time.
- Help families navigate the complexities of winding up the digital affairs of a deceased loved one. Providing guidance and support every step of the way.
- Assist online providers in managing the online accounts of their deceased users. Helping them to honor their users’ privacy and safeguard their information.
Through our services, we aim to bring clarity, compassion, and expertise to an often-overlooked aspect of modern life. Our mission is to help our clients feel confident that their digital legacy is in good hands.