Estate Planning in Credit Unions: What Works, What Fails, What Next

Estate planning shows up on plenty of roadmaps, yet many credit unions still struggle to turn it into durable member value. This session aims to surface the hard truths and the workable paths forward. Cody Barbo, Co-Founder and CEO of Trust & Will, will facilitate a candid discussion on what has actually worked across credit unions, where efforts have stalled, and how to align on member outcomes first, then choose the technology that serves them. We will examine delivery models side-by-side, including partnerships and CUSO participation, and weigh the trade-offs in governance, compliance, operational lift, data stewardship, and measurable ROI.

To ground the conversation, Cody will reference Trust & Will’s experience supporting programs at scale and the 2025 Curql investment as a case study in alignment between fintech and the credit union ecosystem, not as a product showcase. The intent is to challenge assumptions, invite disagreement, and leave attendees with tools they can use the day they get home.

Attendees will walk away with a plain-English rubric for deciding whether to launch, expand, or sunset an estate planning benefit; a checklist for board and risk partners; and a 90-day field-test plan that measures real member impact rather than vanity metrics. No pitches. Just the work.

Learn more about our presenter: Cody Barbo.