Prismm co-founder Martha shares insights on inheritance infrastructure, wealth transfer trends, and how banks can retain multi-generational client relationships.
Martha, could you share a bit about your professional journey and what led you to focus on inheritance infrastructure within financial institutions?
My path into technology started early. I was introduced to programming in middle school, and it sparked a long-term interest in how systems work and connect. I began my career at IBM as an electronic data interchange analyst, where I gained early exposure to how critical accurate, connected data is within complex, regulated environments.
From there, I worked across industries, including health informatics and banking, which deepened my understanding of financial infrastructure and the gaps that exist within it. That perspective became personal after experiencing firsthand how difficult it can be for families to locate, access, and transfer assets during times of loss. Seeing how fragmented and reactive those processes were made it clear that this wasn’t just an operational issue; it was a human one. That realization ultimately led me to co-found Prismm, focused on helping financial institutions bring structure, clarity, and support to inheritance and asset transfer.
How would you assess the current state of inheritance infrastructure within financial institutions, and to what extent are they prepared for the upcoming wealth transfer from the baby boomer generation?
The scale of what’s ahead is unprecedented. Forecasts predict $124 trillion in wealth transfers through 2048, making this the largest wealth transfer in history. Despite that, most financial institutions are still not structurally prepared for what this transition actually requires. Today’s infrastructure is largely built around wealth accumulation and management, not the orchestrations of transfer, which is a fundamentally different challenge. Execution is still heavily manual, fragmented across systems, and often triggered only after a life event occurs.
What’s more concerning is that this transfer is already underway. Baby boomers alone account for a significant majority of this shift. Yet, many institutions still treat inheritance as an endpoint rather than an ongoing lifecycle that needs to be actively managed.
What are the most significant implications of the upcoming multi-generational wealth transfer for financial institutions?
The implications are significant because this isn’t just about assets moving; it’s about relationships moving with them. If institutions are not actively engaging beneficiaries before the transfer occurs, they’re essentially waiting until the relationship is already at risk. By the time assets move, loyalty has often already shifted.
At the same time, this moment presents a powerful opportunity. Inheritance is one of the few financial events that naturally brings multiple generations into the same conversation. From Boomers to Gen Z, it is important to engage with account holders and beneficiaries early. Institutions that can facilitate that (helping families organize assets, communicate intentions, and execute transfers smoothly) have a chance to position themselves at the center of those relationships.
From a deposit perspective, continuity is everything. Retaining even a portion of those transferred assets can have a meaningful impact on balance sheet stability, especially as competition for deposits continues to intensify. But retention doesn’t happen passively; it requires visibility into beneficiaries, earlier engagement, and a more structured approach to managing the transition itself.
Ultimately, this wealth transfer will reward institutions that think beyond the account holder and start building relationships with the entire family. Those that do will not only preserve deposits but expand their role across generations.
How are client expectations evolving when it comes to inheritance planning and legacy management?
Client expectations are evolving rapidly, largely shaped by the seamless digital experiences they’ve come to expect in other areas of their lives. Whether it’s opening a bank account in minutes, tracking investments in real time, or managing sensitive documents securely through a mobile app, people now expect clarity, accessibility, and efficiency as the baseline.
That expectation is beginning to carry over into inheritance and legacy planning, which has traditionally been far more fragmented and opaque. Families no longer want to rely on static documents, scattered account information, or manual processes that only activate after a life event. Instead, they’re looking for a more proactive and organized approach, one where assets, documents, and key contacts are centralized, and where there is clear visibility into what exists, what needs to happen, and who is involved.
There’s also a growing expectation around collaboration and transparency. Beneficiaries want to be included earlier, with appropriate levels of access and guidance, rather than being left to navigate complex financial and legal processes on their own. That includes simple but meaningful capabilities like securely sharing information with family members, designating roles and permissions, and having structured workflows that guide the transfer process step by step.
In many ways, clients are expecting inheritance to function more like other digital financial experiences: intuitive, guided, and responsive. That means faster access to information, fewer manual handoffs, and clearer communication throughout the process. For financial institutions, meeting these expectations isn’t just about improving the client experience; it’s about staying relevant during one of the most critical and sensitive moments in the financial lifecycle.
How is technology shaping the development of effective inheritance infrastructure, and which tools or systems do you consider critical for financial institutions to implement?
Technology is enabling inheritance to move from a reactive, document-driven process to a proactive and structured experience. Critical capabilities include secure digital vaults for organizing assets and documents, workflow automation for transfer processes, and systems that allow controlled access for beneficiaries and advisors. Just as important is the ability to integrate with existing financial systems, ensuring that inheritance is not siloed but embedded within the broader client relationship.
What are the common obstacles financial institutions face when trying to implement robust inheritance infrastructure?
One of the biggest challenges is that inheritance sits across multiple systems that were never designed to work together (core banking, wealth platforms, document storage, and client communication tools). That fragmentation creates operational friction and limits visibility at exactly the moment when clarity is most important.
There’s also a mindset challenge. Many institutions still treat inheritance as a one-time event rather than an ongoing lifecycle, which leads to reactive processes instead of proactive engagement. Finally, there’s the human element; these are emotionally charged situations, and institutions need solutions that balance operational efficiency with empathy and support.
Can you share an example of a financial institution that has successfully built inheritance infrastructure and how it has strengthened multi-generational relationships?
Through a multi-year enterprise commitment with Prismm, Renasant Bank has deployed the Prismm Anchor product within its Private Banking division, with planned expansion across the bank. The move addresses a critical blind spot in banking: most heirs leave their loved one’s institution within 12 months of inheritance, yet few banks measure or manage this attrition. Renasant is building the infrastructure to change that, connecting current account holders to their heirs now.
Are there regulatory or compliance considerations that institutions need to be especially mindful of in this space?
Absolutely. Inheritance touches multiple areas of regulation, from privacy and data security to beneficiary verification and fraud prevention. Institutions need to ensure that sensitive information is protected while still enabling appropriate access for authorized individuals.
There’s also increasing complexity around identity verification, especially with the rise of digital interactions and fraud risks. Processes need to be both secure and user-friendly, which can be difficult to balance. Ultimately, compliance isn’t just a requirement; it’s foundational to building trust during some of the most sensitive moments in a client’s financial lifecycle.
Looking ahead, what trends do you foresee shaping the inheritance infrastructure landscape over the next 5–10 years?
Over the next decade, inheritance will become a much more defined and strategic capability within financial institutions, particularly as it directly impacts deposit retention and long-term relationship growth. As wealth transfers accelerate, institutions will increasingly recognize that retaining assets is not guaranteed and requires active engagement with beneficiaries well before the transfer occurs.
We’ll see a shift toward earlier and more holistic visibility into household relationships, enabling institutions to build connections with the next generation and position themselves to retain those funds when they move. Inheritance will no longer be treated as a back-end process, but as a critical point of continuity for deposits and overall client relationships.
Technology will play a central role in supporting this shift, especially through secure digital vaults, workflow automation, and integrated platforms that streamline the transfer process. Just as important, institutions will focus on creating seamless, transparent experiences that reduce friction during transitions.
For financial institutions that are just beginning to prioritize inheritance infrastructure, what key advice would you give to ensure long-term success and client loyalty?
Start by recognizing that inheritance is not just a back-office process; it’s a relationship moment. The institutions that succeed will be the ones that engage earlier, before assets move, and build trust with the entire family, not just the primary account holder.
It’s also important to think in terms of integration rather than adding another standalone tool. Inheritance infrastructure should connect seamlessly into existing systems and workflows to avoid creating additional complexity.
Finally, focus on clarity and simplicity. The goal is to reduce friction for clients and their families during a difficult time. Institutions that can make that experience more transparent, organized, and supportive will be the ones that retain relationships across generations.
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