Produced By: Ensombl
In an era where technology has quickly evolved from bulky machines to sleek smartphones and cloud-based platforms, professionals in law, finance, and related fields are grappling with both profound opportunities and ethical obligations. The rapid adoption of artificial intelligence (AI), military-grade encryption, and secure data management systems reflects just how dependent our personal and professional lives have become on digital tools. Yet, the complexity of these tools can threaten to overshadow a crucial element: the human side of estate planning, legacy, and succession.
Few areas bring all these topics into sharper focus than digital estate planning. Dylan O’Brien, founder of Be Prepared—a digital safe custody platform—offers vital perspectives on how modern professionals can help clients protect and pass on their digital assets. In doing so, he highlights the role of robust ethics and security standards as the bedrock for any forward-thinking practice. This article draws from a conversation between Dylan O’Brien and Patrick Gardner, exploring the responsibilities of today’s professionals and the transformative power of secure, AI-driven technologies. The focus here is on professionalism, best practices, and the ethical considerations that arise when you meld tech innovation with deep client trust.
Dylan O’Brien begins with a nostalgic anecdote: he owns an original 1980s Nintendo Entertainment System. Though he doesn’t actually play it regularly, he appreciates the system’s old-school aesthetic and yearns for a seemingly simpler era of technology. Anyone who has watched the shift from 8-bit video games to hyper-realistic virtual worlds knows we are living in a drastically different landscape. And while nostalgia offers a pleasant reminder of simpler days, modern professionals must address new complexities—especially in areas of data security and estate planning.
For financial advisors, lawyers, and accountants who started their careers amid landlines, fax machines, and filing cabinets, it can feel daunting to keep pace with these rapid changes. The challenge lies not just in learning new tools but also in ensuring that their use aligns with the highest ethical and professional standards. When the technology was simpler, so were the associated risks. Now, the stakes are exponentially higher.
One of the most disruptive forces shaping the modern professional sphere is AI. In the conversation, O’Brien notes how AI is everywhere—built into email clients, CRMs, and note-taking applications. Sales calls, once purely the domain of human conversation, are now being optimized with AI that can transcribe, summarize, and even offer objection-handling scripts in real-time. Moreover, in daily life, AI-driven tools like ChatGPT or other large language models have replaced routine Google searches for many, due to their ability to provide instant, curated answers without endless ads.
For practices that rely heavily on repeated manual tasks—such as drafting standard emails, scheduling calls, or sifting through prospective leads—this AI integration is a game changer. Tasks that once consumed hours of staff time can be automated. But AI also raises ethical questions:
Maintaining transparency with clients on these issues is a hallmark of ethical practice. Trust is paramount; if clients sense that powerful technology is operating in a “black box,” they may question the integrity or confidentiality of the relationship.
Dylan O’Brien’s own journey from a singer-songwriter in Los Angeles to a psychologist and software developer has been anything but linear. In an almost cinematic twist, the concept behind Be Prepared crystallized when he was struck by a car while preoccupied with emails on his phone. Although he walked away largely unharmed, the incident triggered a profound reflection: If something dire had happened, who would access his personal and professional data? He was the only person in his company with access to a host of credentials, from client information to financials. That vulnerability would have created an administrative and legal catastrophe.
Many professionals underestimate how critical it is to have a plan for transferring digital assets—passwords, accounts, client records, and personal data—in the event of sudden incapacity or death. O’Brien’s anecdote underscores the ethical imperative of continuity planning: ensuring that a practice is secure not just for the professional but for clients who rely on timely and accurate handling of sensitive matters.
Traditionally, estate planning has focused on the tangible: property deeds, investment accounts, and physical keepsakes. But as O’Brien notes, our lives are now bound to data stored in email accounts, smartphones, social media profiles, and cloud drives. This data can be financial, sentimental, or functionally important for estate administration.
For professionals—be they lawyers or financial advisors—the inability to access or manage these digital assets can add months or years to an estate administration process. The frustration and financial drain on the beneficiaries can be immense. Additionally, in the absence of a clearly designated system like a secure digital vault, someone might attempt to hack or guess passwords, inadvertently breaking terms of service or even local laws.
With these challenges in mind, O’Brien developed Be Prepared, a digital safe custody solution that allows individuals to store their digital assets, important documents, and instructions securely. The platform triggers a robust, step-by-step death verification process to ensure assets remain private and inaccessible while the owner is living. Once the client’s passing is confirmed, executors and designated beneficiaries gain read-only access to the relevant information.
One of the most compelling aspects of Be Prepared is that professionals can brand it as their own. Law firms, accounting firms, or financial advisors effectively provide a “firm-branded vault” to each client. The firm’s colors, logos, and messaging reinforce client relationships and add a layer of professional trust.
Within this vault:
By design, the system emphasizes ethical best practices. A client must deliberately share any sensitive file with a professional. The platform never automatically grants free access to personal data. This respects client autonomy and confidentiality—cornerstones of professional ethics.
A significant ethical challenge in digital estate planning is preventing misuse. Whether it’s a malicious third party trying to gain access or a misunderstanding among family members, unscrupulous claims of a client’s death represent a serious risk. Be Prepared employs a four-stage death verification procedure:
This process underscores an ethical principle—due diligence. By dedicating real human attention to verifying key information, the platform mitigates the risk of fraud. From a professional standpoint, having a fail-safe sequence of checks fosters trust, ensuring clients know that no one can hastily or improperly access their private records.
The advantages of a robust digital vault extend beyond mere storage. Particularly for financial advisors and lawyers, such a system can do the following:
When offering a secure, firm-branded vault, professionals send a strong message: they prioritize client well-being, longevity of service, and thorough estate management. This can differentiate a practice in a crowded market.
Be Prepared automates periodic reviews, prompting clients to update documents and account details. Large life events—marriage, divorce, birth of a child, sale of a business—commonly necessitate revisiting legal and financial documents. By scheduling annual or biennial reminders, the platform helps advisors maintain consistent contact. This keeps the client engaged and often leads to further professional services, such as trust revisions, rebalancing investment portfolios, or adjusting insurance coverage.
When a client appoints an executor—often a family member or friend—that executor receives read-only access to the vault. This inadvertently brings brand exposure to potential new clients. O’Brien notes that around 40% of these close connections become prospective customers for the firm. They have firsthand evidence that the practice delivered secure and trustworthy guidance to someone they value.
Some practices opt to charge an annual subscription for a digital vault, bundling it with estate plan reviews, a few hours of complimentary legal or advisory services upon death, or physical safe custody solutions. This can serve as an additional revenue stream and an opportunity to add more value. Clients essentially invest in peace of mind, knowing their family members won’t be buried in administrative nightmares if something unexpected happens.
Data breaches are no longer just a distant headline. They are a daily concern, especially in industries entrusted with sensitive client data. Today’s environment demands top-tier data protection protocols, but professionals also must go a step further: practicing transparent ethics.
Platforms like Be Prepared employ end-to-end encryption, secure data centers, and compliance with various international standards such as SOC 2, GDPR, and local data residency requirements. Some firms may balk at the technological or financial investment needed to implement these measures. However, any lesser standard risks not only the firm’s reputation but also legal liability and, critically, client trust.
Client autonomy is central to ethical data governance: no information should be shared with third parties or even within the practice without explicit authorization. Additionally, legal professionals and financial advisors have a duty to stay updated on evolving local regulations surrounding data privacy, inheritance, and digital rights. A platform that continually verifies user credentials against known data breaches and mandates strong password practices exemplifies this commitment.
In any robust system, controlling user permissions and encryption is only part of the story. Educating clients and staff to avoid common pitfalls—like clicking suspicious links or reusing passwords—is equally vital. Ethical practice implies that professionals take the time to inform and protect their clients from common cyber threats.
The conversation also touched on the growing presence of AI-driven phone receptionists and fact-finding calls. While these can enhance efficiency and even job satisfaction for staff (who can be freed from repetitive tasks), they also pose ethical considerations:
Real estate, insurance, private wealth management, legal, and accounting professionals increasingly require integrated, secure methods of communicating. Whether it’s the simple act of exchanging a will or distributing management instructions for multiple properties, the more seamlessly these documents can be shared, the better for all parties. Be Prepared, as an example, integrates with existing CRMs and can also become the single digital touchpoint for a client’s estate plan.
This consolidation is both a strategic advantage and a fundamental ethical obligation in the modern age. It ensures that data does not sprawl across unprotected email threads, outdated client portals, or, worse, unsecured drives. If done well, integrated technology solutions tighten up compliance, reduce friction, and assure clients that their affairs are methodically managed.
One of the trends O’Brien highlights is the shift in legislative attention. Governments and courts across various jurisdictions are beginning to treat digital assets like tangible property. In the U.K., for instance, a bill is making its way through Parliament that would formally classify digital assets as property. Other countries, including Australia, Canada, and the United States, are exploring or adopting similar statutes.
For professionals, these legal changes underscore two ethical imperatives:
Where once digital assets were a niche consideration, they have quickly become central for a growing number of clients. Entrepreneurs, investors in cryptocurrency, or individuals who keep significant resources online need specialized strategies. The professional who can deftly guide them through these complexities—while upholding confidentiality and robust data protection—will stand out in a market still catching up to the digital reality.
As if the surge in data volume and the expansion of digital property laws were not enough, artificial intelligence continues to surge forward. O’Brien envisions a future where AI and digital vaults combine to reduce friction even further. Examples include:
For these visions to be realized, both technology and ethics must continue evolving. Developers must introduce guardrails for AI, ensuring it never practices unlicensed law or unlicensed financial advice. Meanwhile, professionals must commit to transparent policies, thoroughly explaining how AI is deployed. The center of this transformation remains the individual client’s sense of security and trust.
Estate planning, once associated with physical wills and static documents, now encompasses digital portals, AI assistants, and the uncharted realm of cryptocurrency. Yet, as dynamic as these innovations are, they also raise the bar for professional conduct. Lawyers, financial advisors, and accountants must adopt a dual focus: harness new tools to better serve clients and uphold the highest ethical standards in data privacy, security, and client autonomy.
Dylan O’Brien’s Be Prepared platform emerges as one example of this balanced approach. By integrating layers of verification, encryption, and data governance policies, it underscores how technology can simplify complex administrative processes. At the same time, it serves as a model for how professionals can keep clients engaged, seamlessly collaborate with fellow advisors, and ensure that when a client passes on, their wishes are carried out efficiently and respectfully.
For any practice serving the modern client—someone who might hold cryptocurrency in multiple wallets, store essential business information in the cloud, or maintain a wealth of personal photos and videos on social media—there is no longer a question of “if” you need secure digital estate solutions. The question is how quickly you can implement them to safeguard both your practice and the families who entrust you with their legacy.
In the ongoing race to innovate, those who remember the core principles—confidentiality, thoroughness, and client-centered care—will remain on firm ethical ground. And it is exactly those principles that will ultimately attract and retain the trust of clients, ensuring that professionals in law, finance, and beyond continue to offer invaluable guidance in a world that only gets more connected and complex with each passing day.
Key Takeaways and Next Steps:
By weaving together technology, legal compliance, and ethical best practices, professionals can give clients the best of both worlds: cutting-edge innovation that preserves one of humanity’s oldest needs—the desire to safeguard what we hold dear and ensure a meaningful legacy for those we leave behind.
Accreditation Points Allocation:
0.10 Technical Competence
0.10 Client Care and Practice
0.10 Regulatory Compliance and Consumer Protection
0.10 Professionalism and Ethics
0.40 Total CPD Points