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Go get your flu shot, now!
On this week’s broadcast, get up to speed on all the developments from the T3 Enterprise
Conference, find out which portfolio rebalancing company just acquired a portfolio management
software provider, and another CRM with a long history with advisors gets a fresh start
in the cloud.
So get ready, FPPad Bits and Bytes begins now!
Hey everyone, I’m Bill Winterberg and thank you for spending the next few minutes with
me to get your update on the week’s best technology news.
This week's episode of Bits and Bytes is brought to you by Mimic Technologies, providers of
complete outsourced technology support, security, infrastructure and IT solutions exclusively
for RIAs. To learn how you can keep your data safe from attackers, download a free copy
of their latest white paper on social engineering attacks by visiting fppad.com/mimic.
First up this week is a recap of the first-ever T3 Enterprise Conference for broker-dealers
and financial enterprises. T3 Enterprise is modeled after the T3 Conference for financial
advisors, now in its 9th year, and in full disclosure, I co-produced T3 Enterprise along
with Joel Bruckenstein and David Drucker.
If you weren’t able to attend or follow the conference hashtag on Twitter, here’s
what you need to know:
Redtail, the leading provider of cloud-based CRM to advisors, unveiled a new platform called
Redtail Data Cloud. Redtail Data Cloud aims to tackle the challenge of making sense of
“big data” present in disparate or poorly integrated technology solutions, and generate
valuable, meaningful insight that was generally only possible after pouring over custom spreadsheets
for hours upon hours.
Redtail Data Cloud collects over 500 unique data points across its CRM, email, and document
imaging products, and also collects data via integrations with Riskalyze, Advisor Websites,
Advisor Deck, ActiFi, and MoneyGuidePro. Look for the platform to debut for both advisors
and broker-dealers this January.
Also, two companies exited stealth mode at the conference by introducing new promising
products.
The first is CleverDome, is a Scottsdale, Arizona-based startup born from the back-office
of United Planners Financial Services. Their two new solutions, SOAR, or Source of Accurate
Record, and miVu, or Media Integrated View Unification, are best described as document
management tools that are invisible to the user, so if that doesn’t make you at least
a little curious about what they do, I don’t know what will.
And second to emerge is Gotham Tech Labs, led by John Rourke, who introduced two new
stand-alone products, WealthBox CRM and WealthBase. WealthBox CRM is intended to be a simple CRM
with a streamlined interface, but with powerful social and collaborative workflows. WealthBase
is an inbound marketing network intended to connect financial advisors with consumers
seeking feedback and engagement on their financial needs.
There’s a lot to learn about all these new products and announcements, so head over to
fppad.com/111 to get links to all the articles covering the T3 Enterprise Conference.
The next story is news hot off the presses from Total Rebalance Expert, the San Diego-based
portfolio rebalancing software provider. In a press release issued just today, TRX announced
that it acquired the PowerAdvisor portfolio management software solution from Portland,
Oregon-based Cornerstone Revolutions. PowerAdvisor will be rebranded as TPX, or Total Portfolio
Expert, and TRX will continue to support over 100 firms that use portfolio management software
every day in their business.
Financial details of the acquisition were not disclosed, but this deal will likely offer
advisors with a tightly integrated portfolio management and rebalancing software package,
a single resource for customer service and back office support, and a very capable solution
offered at a very compelling price point.
And finally, this week’s broadcast wraps up with an update on ProTracker software,
providers of desktop-based CRM to advisors for over 16 years. In his technology column
for Financial Planning magazine, Joel Bruckenstein reviewed ProTracker Cloud, the latest CRM
to introduce a cloud-based solution, which is built on top of the SugarCRM platform.
This is similar to the concept of overlays from XLR8 and AppCrown, which both customize
the out-of-the-box Salesforce platform and tailor it for the wealth management environment.
Warren Mackensen, president of ProTracker Software and also an active fee-only financial
planner, certainly has the experience of knowing what it takes to run a successful advisory
business, so I’m optimistic that he’ll be able to introduce SugarCRM, which hasn’t
yet gained much traction among advisors, as a viable contender among cloud-based CRMs.
To read Bruckenstein’s full review of ProTracker Cloud, as well as all of this week’s top
stories, visit fppad.com/111 for all of the links.
And remember, Bits and Bytes wouldn't exist without the support of our partners, so visit
Mimic Technologies to learn more about their outsourced technology and IT solutions for
RIAs. Download their latest free white paper on social engineering attacks by visiting
fppad.com/mimic.
I’ll be busy attending the Schwab IMPACT conference next week, so look for the next
Bits and Bits episode in two weeks. Sign up at fppad.com/subscribe right now to make sure
it gets delivered right to your email inbox.
Thank you for your support and well wishes as I’ve slowly recovered from the flu, so
remember to get your flu shot, and keep the dialog going on Twitter using @billwinterberg
or search for me on Google+
For FPPad.com, I'm Bill Winterberg, see you next time.