Best CM software?

ACT! for Advisors is terrific - expensive, but terrific.

Junxure-i

www.gowithcrm.com

Best there is...

Act for advisors is what I use too.

any opinions on salesforce.com??

No system is perfect.  The trick is to find a good one, like some of those cited above, and then have the discipline to stick with it and not use multiple lists or scraps of paper.  It’s harder than it sounds until you build up good habits.

Anyone using Pareto Systems? Any feedback?

We’re using Goldmine, the newer 9.0 version.  It’s pretty sweet, but for smaller gigs, ACT is ok too.  

www.redtailtechnology.com

[quote=now_indy]www.redtailtechnology.com

[quote=Morphius] [quote=now_indy]www.redtailtechnology.com

Thanksk for that Redtail link. Any small RIAs using Redtail, or a better online CM? How about Outlook?

Thanksk for that Redtail link. Any small RIAs using Redtail, or a better online CM? How about Outlook?

I use RedTail on a daily basis and agree with Morphius’s earlier comments – I think for the price and considering it is web-based, very good system but they aren’t the only kid on the block.  I’ve also used www.salesforce.com but when I compare RedTail against SalesForce – I believe RedTail is more intune with running a Financial Planning Practice but SalesForce did have a lot of neat features and some ability for customization.

I agree with Frederich that Salesforce is very powerful ASP CRM, but the last time I priced it the cost was about the same for each person as Redtail is for up to 10.  Add in the cost of an industry specific overlay and it is considerably more expensive than Redtail.  

I’m starting to like redtail’s product. Email is integrated as well as the marketinglibrary which has preapproved letters and email copy.

Does LPL have a customer database, if so aren't you duplicating the work?

http://www.financialsoftware.com/pracbldr/software.htm

You can get a copy of Act on Ebay for around $20. I’ve been using it for years.

any opinions on salesforce.com??

[quote=bluestars80]

I was provided different versions of Outlook, but they are suck,imo.  Is Broker’s Ally still the big dog? 

I want an all-in-one that reminds me of stuff I need to do, so I want the pop-up feature that gives you the 10 folks you need to call each day, etc.......

Thanks..........

Are any of the mentioned CRMs (Redtail, Act, Salesforce, Junxure, etc) able to receive client information directly from the B/D.



For example, if you clear through Pershing, will your clients’ information (account values) automatically feed in the system as opposed to manually putting it in?



As I look to go Indy, I want to pick a CRM that will provide this if possbile.



Thanks!

I’ve had good experience with Salesforce.com and am now using RedTail.  I don’t think any one CRM system can be the best at everything – pretty much depends on the needs of the Advisors practice but based on my own experience, Salesforce and RedTail do a good job meeting my needs.  Good luck in your CRM search.

[quote=Omar] Are any of the mentioned CRMs (Redtail, Act, Salesforce, Junxure, etc) able to receive client information directly from the B/D.



For example, if you clear through Pershing, will your clients’ information (account values) automatically feed in the system as opposed to manually putting it in?



As I look to go Indy, I want to pick a CRM that will provide this if possbile.



Thanks![/quote]



You can get to automatic account data feeds, although you might need another step in the process. We use Redtail and get account info updated each night, although that is done via an integration with Black Diamond, not directly from Fidelity. In other words, data from custodian >> Black Diamond >> Redtail.



These integrations are important time savers, although for my money the most important one is not getting it into the CRM but into the planning software. That saves huge time keeping the plan updated with current account values automatically.



Check out http://www.yoursilverbullet.net/ for a listing of various software vendors whose products integrate well together.

Morphius,



Thanks so much for that website link. So, you use Black Diamond for your performance reporting, which feeds data into Redtail. So, a couple of quick questions:



1. What type of data feeds into Redtail via Black Diamond? Is it basic demographic (name, address, etc) and account data (holdings)?



2. How much is Black Diamond? Can just about anyone who is independent use them?

[quote=Omar] Morphius,



Thanks so much for that website link. So, you use Black Diamond for your performance reporting, which feeds data into Redtail. So, a couple of quick questions:



1. What type of data feeds into Redtail via Black Diamond? Is it basic demographic (name, address, etc) and account data (holdings)?



2. How much is Black Diamond? Can just about anyone who is independent use them? [/quote]



1. Account info (positions, etc.) feeds into Redtail via BD. I don’t believe name/address, etc. feeds in, but we already had that info in Redtail so didn’t need to import it so I can’t be positive it’s not possible.



2. Anyone who pays for BD can use it, but it does have an annual minimum of something around $20K or so (payable monthly) so it may not be economically aimed at smaller RIAs. I seem to recall them saying their target is $50 MM AUM and larger. You can certainly use them if you are smaller i suppose, but it is a bit more expensive.



Hope that clarifies. Give BD a call yourself to get the details.

Thanks!

I recently set up an RIA and have been looking into “Redtail” and “Smart Office by EZData”.  Are you or anyone familiar with SmartOffice?

So I was just looking at salesforce last weekend (and playing with the demo they provided), and wow.  I’m totally in love (much more intuitive than GM, faster response, open architecture, etc…).  BUT, one thing that they said is that it has no native email integration (coming from goldmine, I figured this was standard by now). 

I see that there are some apps that can be added on to support integrated email.  Does anyone have any experience with Salesforce + email integration? 

See http://www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=2142314&trk=hb_side_g for a LinkedIn group regards Bill Good.

http://www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=2142314&trk=hb_side_g

For those using the Redtail CRM, do you use RedTail email as well, for the benefit of the integration?

Thanks!

Is there a difference between ACT advisor and ACT? Because someone is selling ACT 2008 for $36… vs ACT ADVISOR 299

Ran across something called Prophet today… seems interesting links in with Outlook.

I wanted to try and stick with CRMs designed for financial services/FAs, and, at Morphuis’ suggestion, took a look at Upswing.

any opinions on salesforce.com??

I signed up for Upswing too. I will post about it when I have had it a couple of months.

Anyone using Pareto Systems? Any feedback?

After using upswing now for a little bit…

redtail, Upswing, Smartoffice

[quote=Effay]redtail, Upswing, Smartoffice

Anyone use Protracker?

In trying to find the best CRM for my practice, this post has been extremely helpful!

From the sounds of it, several of you that posted on this thread in 2009 switched from Redtail to one of the other two.........so any more feedback regarding the switch??

I moved from Redtail to Upswing in 2009. I like the switch. Upswing has very few clicks to enter information and if you want to import a list from excel it is pretty simple to do.

I moved from Redtail to Upswing in 2009. I like the switch. Upswing has very few clicks to enter information and if you want to import a list from excel it is pretty simple to do.

If it’s just you, $37 (Upswing) to $65 for Redtail. Redtail offers economies of scale that help; I believe they are likely to be a touch better in the integration category, especially with MGP; and other bolt-on tools (at a price) like email integration.



If you are starting out, Upswing is easier to learn. Uploading data proved to be no better than entering the data into Excel - there are too many bumps along the way (tags, relationships, data cleansing).

I switched from Redtail to Upswing(my b/d cost on redtail was only$50)… I found upswing much easier to use and quicker. On redtail it takes too many click and redirects to get the info I found…

You can get a copy of Act on Ebay for around $20. I’ve been using it for years.

Squash and Noggin -

Were you guys storing any documents on Redtail when you switch. How was the conversion?

One downside to Upswing ... LaserApp. It does integrate with L-A, but not as well as some of the other CRMS. That may or may not be relevant to you.

Squash and Noggin -

Were you guys storing any documents on Redtail when you switch. How was the conversion?

Squash and Noggin -

Were you guys storing any documents on Redtail when you switch. How was the conversion?

[quote=walking9]Thanksk for that Redtail link. Any small RIAs using Redtail, or a better online CM? How about Outlook?[/quote]

I actually wrote a bunch of custom add-ins to Outlook and used it on our exchange server for years.

Alas…I’ve gotten too busy to maintain all that and just switched to Redtail.  It’s Mac friendly, has an iPhone app and also integrates with any email client for automating retention and discovery compliance.  Add in the SaS and no more server maintenance - it’s pretty sweet for RIAs.

I think my stabs at custom database programming are slowly dying - which is okay, I’ll just write programs for investing from now on.

JW

[quote=walking9]Thanksk for that Redtail link. Any small RIAs using Redtail, or a better online CM? How about Outlook?[/quote]

…Redtail … also integrates with any email client for automating retention and discovery compliance…JW

Has anyone used the Pareto Platform CRM?