In today’s fast-paced digital world, retirement is no longer just about stopping work—it’s about creating meaning, leaving a legacy, and ensuring peace of mind for your loved ones. Legacy planning is the process of organizing your affairs, preserving your values, and sharing your life’s journey. It’s more than just financial planning—it’s about leaving a footprint that future generations can cherish.
For retirees, having the right tools to manage this process is essential. From digital vaults and ethical wills to storytelling platforms and estate management apps, there’s a growing number of user-friendly solutions that make legacy planning easier and more meaningful.
In this article, we’ll explore the best legacy planning tools for retirees in 2025, highlighting features, benefits, and how they help you leave behind more than just assets.
1. Everplans
Website: www.everplans.com
Everplans is a robust digital planning tool that lets you organize, store, and share all your important information in one secure place.
Key Features:
- Digital vault for documents (wills, insurance, passwords)
- End-of-life preferences
- Funeral planning templates
- Legacy letter creator
Why It’s Great for Retirees: Everplans simplifies the overwhelming task of organizing every aspect of your legacy. It’s intuitive and ideal for those who want to get their affairs in order with minimal hassle.
2. Cake (JoinCake)
Website: www.joincake.com
Cake is a free platform that helps users navigate end-of-life planning, from health care directives to digital legacy options.
Key Features:
- Create and share end-of-life wishes
- Digital estate and social media management
- Ethical will templates
- Step-by-step planning guides
Why It’s Great for Retirees: It’s free, simple to use, and includes emotional aspects of legacy like personal values, making it holistic and accessible.
3. Trust & Will
Website: www.trustandwill.com
A modern estate planning solution, Trust & Will lets you create legally binding wills and trusts online.
Key Features:
- Online will and trust creation
- Guardianship setup
- Healthcare directives
- Legal compliance in all 50 U.S. states
Why It’s Great for Retirees: This is perfect for those looking to simplify legal planning without costly attorney fees. The platform makes the legal aspects of legacy planning painless.
4. LifeLegacy
Website: www.lifelegacy.io
LifeLegacy provides free digital tools for will creation, plus options to support charitable giving.
Key Features:
- Free digital will creator
- Donation planning
- Life insurance access
- Online obituary tools
Why It’s Great for Retirees: It combines simplicity with the option to create a socially impactful legacy through donations, ideal for philanthropically-minded individuals.
5. StoryWorth
Website: www.storyworth.com
StoryWorth isn’t about money—it’s about memories. It sends you weekly questions about your life, which are compiled into a professionally printed book.
Key Features:
- Weekly storytelling prompts
- Family access to responses
- Hardcover memory book at the end of the year
Why It’s Great for Retirees: Perfect for those who want to pass down stories, wisdom, and life lessons to future generations in a meaningful format.
6. GoodTrust
Website: www.mygoodtrust.com
GoodTrust helps manage both your digital legacy and legal documentation.
Key Features:
- Manage online accounts and digital assets
- Online will creation
- End-of-life preferences and funeral wishes
- Digital executor tools
Why It’s Great for Retirees: This platform uniquely focuses on your digital afterlife, an often overlooked but critical part of modern legacy planning.
7. MyLife & Wishes
Website: www.mylifeandwishes.com
This secure online platform allows you to store and share everything your family needs to know when you’re gone.
Key Features:
- Secure document storage
- Insurance and banking details
- Final wishes
- Password manager
Why It’s Great for Retirees: Provides clarity and convenience for your loved ones, helping reduce stress during emotionally difficult times.
8. GatheringUs
Website: www.gatheringus.com
GatheringUs specializes in memorial planning and digital remembrance.
Key Features:
- Virtual memorials and celebration of life events
- Digital guest books
- Donation and crowdfunding integrations
Why It’s Great for Retirees: It’s a beautiful way to help your family plan a memorial and create a digital legacy that can be visited anytime.
9. Quilted (formerly LifeSnapshot)
Website: www.getquilted.io
Quilted helps users securely organize important life information so families can easily access it when needed.
Key Features:
- Emergency document storage
- Guided information entry
- Data sharing with family and advisors
Why It’s Great for Retirees: Designed for ease of use, it gives peace of mind that loved ones won’t be left searching for vital information.
10. LegacyArmour
Website: www.legacyarmour.com
LegacyArmour provides encrypted digital storage and delivery of critical documents and personal messages.
Key Features:
- Cyber-secure information vault
- Scheduled delivery of files to beneficiaries
- Legacy messaging
Why It’s Great for Retirees: This tool ensures that your legacy is delivered safely—even if you’re no longer here to explain it.
How to Choose the Right Legacy Planning Tool
When selecting the best legacy planning tools for your needs, consider the following:
- Ease of Use: Look for platforms that offer guided steps and intuitive interfaces.
- Security: Ensure tools have high-level encryption to protect sensitive data.
- Comprehensiveness: Some platforms cover everything from wills to storytelling. Decide if you need a financial tool, an emotional storytelling tool—or both.
- Cost: While many tools are free or low-cost, paid services often offer better customization and support.
- Sharing Options: Choose platforms that allow you to securely share your plans with family, attorneys, or advisors.
Final Thoughts
Legacy planning is not just about money—it’s about meaning. As a retiree, you’ve built a life full of stories, values, and wisdom. Using the right tools can help you preserve these gifts for the people who matter most.
Whether you’re looking to create a simple will, document your life’s journey, or store important files securely, there’s a tool on this list that fits your needs. Start small, stay consistent, and remember—your legacy is one of the most valuable things you’ll ever leave behind.