Advisor Tech News of 2024: An Evolving List
Apex
Apex Advisor Solutions, which is part of Apex Fintech Solutions, has introduced Apex Astra, a new user interface, or UI. Apex Astra is designed for advisors “to take control of their innovation and client onboarding, data, and service,” according to the firm. It can be integrated with tools for rebalancing via fractional trading, digital client onboarding with automated account opening, and the use of AI through advanced third-party overlays.
CAIS
The provider of an alternative investment platform for independent advisors recently announced the start of its education program, CAIS Live, which includes one-day, in-person events in 2024 in Atlanta; Boston; Charlotte, North Carolina; Chicago; Dallas; Denver; New York; Seattle and Washington, D.C. It also will host its yearly conference in October in Los Angeles.
eMoney
Enhancements are set to be rolled out to eMoney Advisor’s financial planning platform throughout 2024 to improve more collaborative planning between advisors and clients. T3 attendees can try out the redesigned client portal, which will “undergo a significant facelift — starting with the release of the My Advisor page in Q1,” the firm said in a statement.
Envestnet
Envestnet has launched a new RIA consulting program, the RIA Growth Lab, which includes practice valuation and enhancement services, performance benchmarking, and insights into ways advisors can deepen their engagement with the platform’s tools and resources. The program is being led by Dani Fava, group head of Product Innovation for the TAMP provider.
Envestnet also says its MoneyGuide software is now integrated with life insurer Ladder, Advisors can use MoneyGuide Elite’s Advanced Lifetime Protection tool to estimate clients’ coverage needs, generate a quote and send clients a link to apply for it.
Haven Tower
The communications firm Haven Tower Group has rolled out Haven Mark Partners, a marketing solutions platform for wealth managers and related businesses. The efforts combine the firm’s in-house marketing and project management team with “pre-vetted and carefully curated third-party solutions providers … [to] help clients … implement high-impact marketing experiences” and brand strategies that “incorporate “the best elements of successful technology, consumer and broader financial services campaigns,” it said.
Orion
Orion Advisor Solutions announced several enhancements and integrations tied to email and calendar management, as well as generative AI. Redtail Suite Sync, for instance, aims to serve as a “seamless email, calendar and contact syncing tool,” the firm says. It is also introducing some advanced AI features to help advisors with the auto-completion of sentences in messages being written to clients. Plus, the Redtail Speak AI Assistant can now scan advisors’ messaging history to provide multiple suggested responses to client queries.
TIFIN
Fitech platform provider TIFIN is spinning off TIFIN AG, an AI-driven platform designed to help advisory firms grow their assets. It also appointed industry veterans Rajini Kodialam and Brian Carlin as board members; Kodialam founded E-3 technology partners and co-founded Focus Financial Partners, while Carlin formerly was CEO of J.P. Morgan Private Capital and J.P. Morgan Wealth Management Solutions.
Vanilla
Estate-planning software maker Vanilla has added the first iterations of several new features to its platform: VAI Chat, collaborative onboarding and the expanded availability of its document builder solution, including the option of working directly with a law firm. VAI Chat, for instance, is an AI-powered assistant designed to “simplify estate planning for wealth planners, advisors and their clients,” according to the firm.
(Shown in Josh Brown of Ritholtz Wealth; credit: Bloomberg)
