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Chart of the Day: Estate Plan Updates - When and Why

Gregory Thomas, Vice President, Portfolio Management Services Jan 13, 2026
Pie chart showing when Americans last updated their estate plans.

Contents

Today’s Chart of the Day, prepared by Victoria Lurie at Caring.com, highlights findings from the 2025 Wills and Estate Planning Study.
 
Updating one's estate plan often ends up at the bottom of the to-to list, so it’s no surprise that 23% of Americans haven’t revised theirs since creating it. However, according to the recent survey, most people do make changes over time:
  • 25% updated within the past five years
  • 21% within the past year
  • 16% within the past six months
These updates are usually driven by life changes rather than current events. The COVID-19 pandemic played a major role, prompting asset changes that led to estate plan revisions. Positive milestones also drove updates, including financial changes such as a raise, inheritance, or property purchase, and life events like births or marriages.
 
Chart of the Day

About the Author

Gregory Thomas, Vice President, Portfolio Management Services
Gregory Thomas, Vice President, Portfolio Management Services

Gregory is an experienced financial manager specializing in investment holdings for individuals, trusts, IRAs, private foundations, and nonprofit organizations across Florida. A Mercy College graduate with a degree in government, he began his career in technology before transitioning to financial management in 2009.

Investments are not a deposit or other obligation of, or guaranteed by, the bank, are not FDIC insured, not insured by any federal government agency, and are subject to investment risks, including possible loss of principal.

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