The Technology Stack for Modern RIA Firms

Michelle's practice was growing. She had 120 clients and one part-time assistant. She spent hours each week on manual tasks—data entry, report generation, chasing documents. "I'm an advisor, not a data clerk," she said.

She invested in a proper tech stack: CRM, planning software, and a client portal. Within six months, she reclaimed 12 hours per week. Reports automated. Onboarding streamlined. Clients could view their accounts and documents online. Her assistant could handle more with less oversight.

The right technology stack doesn't replace the advisor—it amplifies them. Here's what modern RIA firms use and what to prioritize.

Key Takeaways

• CRM is the foundation. Everything flows through the CRM—leads, clients, tasks, communications. Choose one that fits your workflow and integrates with your other tools.
• Planning software drives the advice. RightCapital, MoneyGuidePro, eMoney—these tools model scenarios, run projections, and produce plans. They're central to the retirement advisory value proposition.
• Portfolio management and reporting. Orion, Black Diamond, Tamarac—these aggregate accounts, run performance reports, and support rebalancing. Many integrate with custodians.
• Document management and e-signatures. ShareFile, DocuSign—secure document storage and e-signatures reduce paperwork and speed onboarding.
• Integrate or suffer. Tools that don't talk to each other create manual data entry. Prioritize integrations. CRM ↔ planning ↔ portfolio management should flow seamlessly.

Core components

CRM

The CRM is the hub. It tracks leads, clients, tasks, and communications. When you add a client, the CRM should trigger onboarding tasks. When you complete a meeting, it should log notes and schedule follow-ups. Good options: Wealthbox, Redtail, Salesforce (with Wealth Management add-ons).

Planning software

Retirement advisors live in planning software. These tools model Social Security timing, RMD projections, tax scenarios, and withdrawal sequencing. They produce plans clients can understand and advisors can implement. RightCapital, MoneyGuidePro, and eMoney are widely used. Pick one that fits your process and integrates with your CRM.

Portfolio management and reporting

You need to aggregate accounts, run performance reports, and support rebalancing. Orion, Black Diamond, and Tamarac are common. Many integrate with custodians (Schwab, Fidelity) for automatic data feeds. Reports should be client-ready—they'll see them in the portal.

Document management

Secure document storage and e-signatures reduce paperwork. ShareFile, DocuSign, and similar tools support client onboarding and compliance. Clients can upload documents and sign agreements without mailing or faxing.

Integration matters

Tools that don't integrate create manual work. Data entered in the CRM should flow to planning. Account data from custodians should flow to reporting. When systems talk, you spend less time copying and pasting.

Before adding a new tool, check integrations. Does it connect to your CRM? Your custodian? Your planning software? Integration often matters more than features.

AI and the future stack

AI is changing advisory services. Document processing, meeting summaries, and client communication are early use cases. The firms that adopt AI incrementally will have an edge—but the core stack (CRM, planning, reporting) remains the foundation.

Building your stack

Start with the essentials: CRM, planning, and reporting. Add document management and e-signatures. Prioritize integrations. Revisit annually—tech evolves, and your needs change as you scale. The right stack frees you to advise, not administer.

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