That is why your digital legacy deserves a place in your broader Wealth Planning. When you think about gifting, inheritance, passing on wealth or the next generation, it is not only about what is transferred financially. It is also about overview, control and clarity for the people who will later have to continue with the choices you have made.
"}},{"componentType":"sectionTitle","title":"What is a digital legacy?"},{"componentType":"paragraph","richBody":{"value":"Your digital legacy consists of everything you leave behind digitally and online after death. This can be personal, financial or business-related. Think of email, cloud storage, social media, subscriptions, payment accounts, crypto wallets, digital administration, domain names, websites and logins for smart devices.
Some digital assets mainly have emotional value, such as photos or personal messages. Others may have financial value or practical importance, such as online balances, paid services or business accounts that are needed to keep a company running.
"}},{"componentType":"sectionTitle","title":"Why is your digital legacy important?"},{"componentType":"paragraph","richBody":{"value":"For wealthy individuals and entrepreneurs, a digital legacy often goes beyond personal accounts or online photos. Digital access can directly affect wealth, decision-making authority and continuity. Think of online investment environments, crypto wallets, digital administration, business email, cloud storage, domain names, property or business documents and correspondence with advisers. If it is not clear where this information is stored or who may access it, those you leave behind may lose valuable time and lack important oversight.
"}},{"componentType":"paragraph","richBody":{"value":"Wealthy individuals often store sensitive information digitally: financial documents, family files, business data, tax documents or personal communication. Without clear arrangements, questions arise about who should have access, what should remain private and which information is needed to settle the estate carefully.
"},"title":"Privacy plays a bigger role"},{"componentType":"paragraph","richBody":{"value":"Especially when private wealth, entrepreneurship, family interests and possibly international assets come together, a well-arranged digital legacy helps you stay in control. It helps prevent digital assets from remaining undiscovered, business processes from coming to a standstill or those you leave behind having to make decisions without clear guidance.
"},"title":"Maintain control and direction"},{"componentType":"sectionTitle","title":"How do you arrange your digital legacy?"},{"componentType":"paragraph","richBody":{"value":"Arranging your digital legacy starts with creating an overview. Identify which accounts, devices, documents and digital assets are important and decide what should happen to them if you are no longer there. This is not only about access, but also about your wishes: what may be kept, what should be deleted and who may view or manage certain information? Record this securely, for example with the help of a password manager, digital vault or civil-law notary, and appoint someone you trust. This makes it easier for those you leave behind to handle your digital affairs carefully and in line with your wishes.
"}},{"componentType":"sectionTitle","title":"Clarity for those you leave behind"},{"componentType":"paragraph","richBody":{"value":"Ultimately, a digital legacy is about clarity. By recording what you own digitally, who may access it and what should happen to it, you prevent those you leave behind from having to search, guess or make decisions without your guidance.
At ING Private Banking, we use Wealth Planning to look at your broader financial situation. Your wealth is not separate from your family, business, future plans and choices for later. Thinking about your digital affairs can therefore help bring your broader legacy into sharper focus.
Would you like to discuss your broader legacy and financial choices for later? Contact your Relationship Manager. Where needed, specialists can be involved, so you can carefully map out your financial situation, wishes and points of attention.
"}},{"componentType":"cta","textLink":{"text":"Make an appointment about Wealth Planning","url":"/en/private-banking/customer-service"}},{"componentType":"sectionTitle","title":"Read more"},{"cards":[{"body":"A good wealth plan shows where you stand today, where you are heading and how to get there.","cardSize":"medium","cardType":"article","componentType":"articleCard","date":"2026-07-02","image":{"altTextNL":"\"\"","extension":"jpg","original":"https://assets.ing.com/asset/1fd616b4-6ba1-466e-9e37-3ae2f4a692ae/MAN-STANDING-IN-FOREST.jpg","transformBaseUrl":"https://assets.ing.com/transform/1fd616b4-6ba1-466e-9e37-3ae2f4a692ae/MAN-STANDING-IN-FOREST","type":"image","width":6000},"link":{"url":"/en/private-banking/knowledge-and-insights/wealth-planning/build-for-the-future-with-wealth-planning-and-portfolio-management"},"title":"Build your financial future"},{"body":"Many Private Banking clients lack a clear overview. A wealth plan provides peace of mind and direction. Learn how.","cardSize":"medium","cardType":"article","componentType":"articleCard","date":"2026-02-24","image":{"extension":"jpg","original":"https://assets.ing.com/asset/8bca47ae-3701-4cdb-adad-bcddc58176cc/PORTRAIT-OF-A-SMILING-YOUNG-WOMAN-STANDING-AGAINST-THE-WALL.jpg","transformBaseUrl":"https://assets.ing.com/transform/8bca47ae-3701-4cdb-adad-bcddc58176cc/PORTRAIT-OF-A-SMILING-YOUNG-WOMAN-STANDING-AGAINST-THE-WALL","type":"image","width":5700},"link":{"url":"/en/private-banking/knowledge-and-insights/wealth-planning/do-you-have-a-wealth-plan-getting-the-basics-right"},"title":"Do you have a wealth plan? Getting the basics"}],"componentType":"cards"},{"componentStyle":"default","componentType":"linkList","iconTitle":{"title":"Related"},"textLinks":[{"text":"Wealth Planning","url":"/en/private-banking/wealth-planning"},{"text":"Our approach","url":"/en/private-banking/our-approach"},{"text":"Investing","url":"/en/private-banking/investing"},{"text":"Family Solutions","url":"/en/private-banking/our-clients/family-solutions"}]}]},"hasMacro":false,"id":"dc0288b0-3527-49b1-9674-e9def23d5e19","localeString":"en-GB","mainHeaderZone":{"backLink":{"textLink":{"text":"Wealth planning","url":"/en/private-banking/knowledge-and-insights/wealth-planning"}},"componentType":"editorialHeader","coreHeader":{"headerImage":{"extension":"jpg","original":"https://assets.ing.com/asset/3965e835-88c7-4420-b1ae-4490609d99f9/Two-young-girls-sit-on-the-boat-deck-with-two-adults-looking-out-towards-the-water.jpg","transformBaseUrl":"https://assets.ing.com/transform/3965e835-88c7-4420-b1ae-4490609d99f9/Two-young-girls-sit-on-the-boat-deck-with-two-adults-looking-out-towards-the-water","type":"image","width":4500},"subtitle":"Today, your legacy is no longer limited to physical possessions, wealth or documents kept in a folder. Our digital lives leave traces behind: from email accounts and photos in the cloud to online subscriptions, digital administration, business accounts and possibly crypto assets. Without clear arrangements, this can raise practical and legal questions for those you leave behind.","title":"Your digital legacy: what do you leave behind online?"},"date":"2026-08-11","readingTime":5},"publishDate":"2026-08-11T17:11:14.162+02:00"}}