Technology is more than a business expense — it’s a strategy for success. To remain competitive, every company is or must become a technology company.

Wealth management firms that embrace and adopt new and developing technologies create a stronger position to withstand challenges and threats to their business. Top RIAs use technology to digitize operations to improve advisor effectiveness, drive deeper customer engagement, meet the needs of unique market segments, and attract new clients.

Tech-Enabled Advisors Perform Better

The RIA business model is attracting more advisors than ever before. According to one survey, advisors believe the RIA model leads to higher payouts, a more personable culture, and more control over investment decisions and portfolio recommendations.

Traditional financial careers, on the other hand, lag behind the RIA model in delivering innovation, flexibility, and a sense of purpose.

Today’s advisors are looking for innovation and opportunities. To attract top talent, RIA firms need to invest in flexible and scalable technology that allows advisors to perform at their best. This includes software that’s accessible from multiple devices, provides high levels of security to protect client information, and features flexible access options that work for a variety of organizational structures.

A Client-Centered Approach through Technology

Traditionally, document management and consultations happen in person with local branches and advisors, but virtual advisors and paperless management offer new ways for advisors and clients to build relationships. Not only are digital interactions more cost-effective, but they also provide personalized financial advice and access to clients’ portfolio information immediately and from anywhere.

Removing the reams of paperwork and manual filing from client onboarding, transactions, and transitions enables advisors to serve their clients more efficiently. Innovative CRM platforms and data management tools can integrate with tools specifically built for wealth management, empowering advisors to focus on each client individually and better design plans that meet their needs and minimize risk.

One of the most important ways to mitigate risk and boost client confidence is cybersecurity. The right technology provides detailed checklists to prepare firms to stave off cyberattacks and avoid damaging client portfolios or their reputations.

Regulatory compliance is also vital to protecting a firm’s reputation. Technology solutions can help firms efficiently manage paperwork associated with new investment options and ensure continued regulatory compliance.

Scaling Wealth Management Operations through Technology

By combining integration tools and systems to form comprehensive solutions, firms can lay a foundation for future growth and expansion into new markets. As cloud computing and digital solutions become the norm across the industry, it is important to implement tools that talk to each other properly, share data appropriately, and streamline workflows through automation or consolidation.

This will promote greater efficiency and increase capacity to add new clients through acquisition, specialization, or customization.

For example, if a firm decides to implement a cloud-based document management tool, it should look for software that integrates with the CRM so advisors can access the necessary customer data without having to move between tools constantly.

Here are a few features that can help streamline operations when you’re considering upgrading your digital toolkit:

• Electronic signatures
• Virtual meeting software
• Screen sharing technology
• Digital forms
• Text, email and automated messaging
• Online calendaring and availability management
• Website management
• Business metrics tools
• Knowledge base, FAQs and other helpful information

Attract the Best Clients to Your Firm

Much of the cost of acquiring a new client is taken up by paying the advisors’ salaries. Technology can maximize the time available to each advisor to engage with potential clients and onboard them quickly.

One way to streamline this process is through formless data entry. Moving client onboarding operations to the cloud allows advisors to send and receive essential information needed to open accounts and close deals easily and securely, freeing up time for advisors to work with current and future clients and develop their referral networks.

High-performing RIAs embrace technology and make it an integral part of their strategy for acquiring clients, scaling business operations, improving customer experiences, and empowering advisors to exceed expectations.

Are you ready to implement digital solutions as part of your RIA growth strategy?

Contact Communications@docupace.com to learn more about how Docupace can streamline your firm’s operations so you can meet your clients’ needs now and plan for growth in the future.

Ryan George is the Chief Marketing Officer at Docupace. He is responsible for the company’s brand awareness, early-stage sales pipeline, content strategies, customer and industry insights, internal and external communications, design, and events. George actively engages in leadership roles in both the financial services and marketing communications communities. He a member of the Forbes Communications Council, an invitation-only, fee-based organization of senior-level communications and public relations executives, the CMO Council and the CMO Club.