The Honest Comparison
When I started researching estate planning training in 2018, I assumed in-person courses would be better. More "professional." More legitimate. But after running training groups for hundreds of students, I've seen something surprising:
Online students often outperform in-person students.
Not because online training is inherently superior, but because it attracts people who take ownership of their learning. And in estate planning—where you'll be running your own business—that self-directed mindset is exactly what you need.
Here's the complete comparison so you can decide for yourself.
Online vs In-Person: Side-by-Side Comparison
| Factor | Online Training | In-Person Training |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | £300-£1,500 | £1,500-£5,000+ |
| Travel Required | None | Yes (+ hotel costs) |
| Schedule Flexibility | Study anytime | Fixed dates/times |
| Learning Pace | Go at your own speed | Must keep up with class |
| Ongoing Support | Monthly groups, messaging | Usually none after course |
| Materials Access | Lifetime (usually) | Just during course |
| Networking | Online groups/forums | Face-to-face connections |
| Time Off Work | Not required | 2-5 days typically |
| Practical Skills | Practice with software/templates | Practice with software/templates |
| Question Support | Ask anytime (email/group) | During class hours only |
Why Online Training Often Produces Better Results
Here's what I've noticed after training hundreds of estate planners:
1. You Learn at the Right Pace for You
In a classroom, you're stuck with the group pace. If you're a quick learner, you'll be bored. If you need more time on certain topics, tough luck—the class moves on.
With online training, you can:
- Replay videos you don't understand
- Skip sections you already know
- Take breaks when you need them
- Study when your brain works best (morning person? night owl? doesn't matter)
This isn't just convenient—it's more effective. Educational research consistently shows self-paced learning produces better retention than fixed-pace classroom instruction.
2. You Get Ongoing Support, Not Just a 2-Day Course
Most in-person estate planning courses work like this:
- Attend a 2-3 day intensive workshop
- Get overwhelmed with information
- Go home and... figure it out yourself
Three weeks later, when you have a tricky client situation, you're on your own.
Good online training (including ours) includes:
- Monthly support groups where you can ask questions as they come up in real practice
- Email/message support when you're stuck
- Community forums where other students share their experiences
- Updated materials when laws or best practices change
The training doesn't end when the course ends. That's huge when you're starting a business.
3. You Save £2,000+ in Total Costs
Let's do the real maths on an in-person course:
In-Person Course Total Cost:
- Course fee: £2,500
- Hotel (2 nights): £200
- Travel: £100
- Meals: £80
- Time off work (2 days): £300 lost income
Total: £3,180
Online Course Total Cost:
- Course fee: £995
- Travel: £0
- Time off work: £0
Total: £995
That's a £2,185 saving that you can invest in marketing your new business instead.
4. You Actually Fit It Into Your Life
Most people researching estate planning training still have a job. Maybe kids. Responsibilities.
Blocking out 2-3 consecutive days for a classroom course is genuinely difficult. You need to:
- Book time off work (and explain why to your boss)
- Arrange childcare
- Hope the course dates align with your schedule
- Rush through the material whether you're ready or not
Online training fits around your life. Study on lunch breaks. Watch videos after the kids are in bed. Do practical exercises on weekends. Start today, not in three months when the next course runs.
When In-Person Training Might Be Better
I want to be honest: in-person training isn't wrong for everyone. It might be better if you:
In-Person Might Work Better If You:
- Struggle with self-discipline – If you've bought online courses before and never finished them, physical accountability might help
- Learn best through face-to-face interaction – Some people genuinely need to be in a room with others to absorb information
- Have money but no time – If £3,000+ isn't a concern and you want to cram everything into 2 days, go for it
- Value networking above learning – Meeting people face-to-face can create stronger connections (though online communities work well too)
But here's the thing: if you struggle with self-discipline, estate planning might not be the right career.
Running your own estate planning practice requires:
- Marketing yourself without a boss pushing you
- Following up with clients when you don't feel like it
- Doing admin work with no one watching
- Staying up to date on law changes on your own
If you can't self-motivate through an online course, you probably won't self-motivate through running a business. That's not a criticism—it's just something to consider honestly before investing time and money.
The Bottom Line
For most people, online estate planning training is the better choice.
It's more affordable, more flexible, often includes better ongoing support, and produces equivalent (or better) results than classroom training.
The only real advantage of in-person training is face-to-face networking—and you're paying a £2,000+ premium for that benefit.
If you're self-motivated, comfortable learning online, and want to save money you can invest in marketing your new business, online training makes sense.
If you genuinely need physical accountability and have the budget for it, in-person might work better—but be honest with yourself about whether that need for external structure will serve you well when running your own practice.