Most American workers said wills, powers of attorney and advance healthcare directives are important, but far fewer have them.
The gap often surfaces at work when a family member dies, according to new research from Aflac.
The Aflac Life Insurance and Legacy Planning Study surveyed 1,000 US adult employees. It found that 77% consider a last will and testament important, but only 57% have one. Some 71% said a power of attorney was important, yet only half had completed one. Two-thirds rated an advance healthcare directive as important, while 54% had one in place.
Even among those who had documented their wishes, 38% did not believe their loved ones knew exactly where to find them.
The study points to a clear workplace effect. Among respondents who had dealt with a loved one's death and the responsibilities that followed, 74% said the experience affected their productivity at work. Some 37% said they struggled to balance those responsibilities with work demands.
Respondents most often described the emotional impact as the most overwhelming part (45%), followed closely by handling financial matters (43%). Some 40% said they struggled with funeral and memorial arrangements.
Uncertainty about where to begin, the complexity of the process, cost and discomfort with the subject were the main reasons workers gave for delaying planning. More than half said simple, step-by-step guidance would make them more likely to complete estate planning tasks, and 79% said they would be likely to use a care manager to help with end-of-life matters.
"Many people recognize the importance of planning but are unsure where to begin or feel overwhelmed by the process," said Scott Beeman, divisional president of Aflac Premier.
Beeman said employers that offer end-of-life planning resources could support employee wellbeing and help staff manage a loved one's affairs while keeping up with their jobs.
Aflac provides covered employees with legacy planning and bereavement support through a partnership with Empathy, a technology company focused on end-of-life planning and bereavement. That support extends to beneficiaries when a claim is paid.
The findings reflect a broader pattern in life insurance. The 2026 Insurance Barometer Study from LIMRA and Life Happens found that 29% of consumers do not own life insurance but say they need it.
Among those with a coverage gap, one-third said they weren't sure how much cover they needed or what type of policy to buy. That is the same uncertainty about where to start that Aflac's respondents cited for estate planning.
For benefits brokers, the research makes a business case to employers rather than only a wellbeing one. If most employees who lose a family member see their productivity suffer, bereavement and legacy planning support becomes a way to protect workforce output, not just an extra perk.
These services are increasingly bundled with group and voluntary life products, so brokers reviewing employee benefit packages can use them to differentiate otherwise similar life offerings. The gaps the study identifies, such as missing wills and documents families can't find, are also practical problems that guided planning tools can address before a claim, rather than after.
The usual caution applies, however. The research comes from a carrier that sells products tied to the solutions it recommends, and Aflac has not published fieldwork dates or a margin of error in its release.
Brokers advising employers will want to look at the demand for these services in their own client's workforce before recommending them.
