Last week, I stood in a room full of sharp advisors, attorneys, and planners and asked a simple question:
Is AI a tool… a threat… or both?
You could feel the hesitation.
Some people leaned forward—curious. Others leaned back—skeptical. And a few probably thought, “Here we go… another AI pitch.”
But here’s the thing: this isn’t hype anymore. AI is already sitting quietly inside our workflows—drafting emails, summarizing IRS updates, even helping structure estate plans. The real question isn’t whether we should use it.
It’s whether we’re using it well.
It’s like Magic
If you’ve tried it, you know the feeling.
You drop in a prompt—maybe a quick request for a client memo or a summary of a tax rule—and within seconds, something usable appears. Not perfect. But surprisingly solid.
AI can often get you 60–80% of the way there before you’ve even taken your second sip of coffee .
In a profession where time is constantly squeezed—by deadlines, client expectations, and complexity—that first draft matters more than we like to admit. It matters to our productivity, our bottom line, and our stress levels—increasing some, decreasing others.
But It’s Not Magic
AI is also strangely confident… and sometimes completely wrong.
It will cite cases that don’t exist.
It will state tax rules that sound plausible—but aren’t.
It will give you a “standard answer” that ignores your client’s very non-standard situation.
In other words, it’s like a first-year associate who never says, “I’m not sure.”
That’s where professionals come in. That’s where your expertise can shine.
No matter how good the tool gets, it still doesn’t replace judgment. It doesn’t understand nuance. And it definitely doesn’t carry malpractice insurance.
Where AI Actually Fits in Real Life
Here’s where I’m seeing AI genuinely move the needle:
- Drafting (Without the Blank Page Problem)
Wills, trusts, memos, emails—you name it. AI gives you a starting point. Not the final answer, but something to react to. And that’s often the hardest part.
- Translating Complexity
Ever tried explaining a dense tax concept to a client without watching their eyes glaze over? AI can take something technical and turn it into plain English. Clean. Simple. Digestible.
- Internal Knowledge Retrieval
Instead of asking, “How did we handle this last year?” and digging through folders, you can just ask. Suddenly, institutional knowledge becomes accessible instead of buried.
- Workflow Optimization
Checklists. Task prioritization. Follow-ups. Not glamorous—but incredibly valuable.
A Quick Reality Check on Risk
Now, before we get too excited, we have to talk about the risks—because they’re real.
- Confidentiality matters. You can’t just drop client financials into any tool and hope for the best.
- Outdated knowledge is a thing. AI doesn’t always know the latest exemption amounts or regulatory changes.
- Overgeneralization happens. It gives “typical” answers in a world where nothing about our clients is typical
So the rule is simple:
Trust the process—but verify the output. Always.
What This Looks Like in Your Day
If you zoom out, AI is quietly touching every part of the workflow:
- Before a meeting → prep and research
- During a meeting → notes and summaries
- After a meeting → follow-ups and CRM updates
- Ongoing → marketing, communication, and planning support
It’s not one big transformation.
It’s a hundred small ones.
So… Where Do You Start?
You don’t need a grand strategy.
Start small.
- Ask it to explain something you already know—and see how it does
- Use it to draft a low-stakes email
- Have it summarize something dense
- Let it brainstorm ideas you might not have considered
And then—this is key—refine it.
Because that’s where your value lives.
The Bottom Line
AI isn’t replacing estate planning professionals.
It’s exposing the gap between those who rely on process and those who elevate it.
Used well, it gives you back time.
Used carelessly, it creates risk.
Ignored entirely? That might be the biggest risk of all.
So no—it’s not just a tool.
And it’s not just a threat.
It’s both.
And how it shows up in your practice… is entirely up to you.
If you have questions about estate planning or how new technologies may impact your approach, contact Lommen Abdo to discuss your options.