For independent financial advisors, along with freedom and control comes the added responsibility of managing a business. Think: compliance, marketing, technology management, employee management, reporting, and more.
In our experience, the fastest-growing RIAs are the ones who embrace outsourcing. They outsource administrative, operational, and other back and middle office tasks to free up valuable time to focus on client relationships and business development.
Middle office and technology challenges we often hear about include:
- It’s hard or impossible to run the middle office and tech without adding headcount, which adds costs and leads to less profit
- Client onboarding is time-consuming and includes complex custody transitions that disrupt business operations
- It’s difficult to manage billing, performance reporting, and trading efficiently on tech platforms that lack specific solutions (e.g., advisor-traded accounts, UMAs, reporting-only accounts)
- Manual account setup and ongoing support creates revenue gaps and delayed billing
- There is a need for comprehensive investment guidance, including cash management (investing cash, managing withdrawals, and optimizing returns on uninvested funds)
These pain points are more than annoyances; they impact growth, culture, and client service.
The solution: outsourcing
With Aptus Capital Advisors, we serve over $20 billion in client assets. Our combined firm provides a turnkey solution allowing advisors to fully outsource tech, investment management, and operations. We also offer à la carte services that can be incorporated with an advisor’s existing technology.
5 ways we make it easy for RIAs to onboard with us
For established or breakaway RIAs, transitioning to a new partner and technology platform can be daunting, but we simplify the process with a streamlined, personalized approach.
1. We have a thoughtful discovery process
We believe in a mutual-fit philosophy and partner with growth-oriented RIAs.
2. We fully customize tech platforms
Every firm is different, and we tailor tech platforms to each group’s needs. Including fee and billing setup, trading parameters, tax analysis, and model restrictions, we ensure the system is optimized for efficiency.
3. We take a comprehensive, all-at-once approach
We streamline the transition by handling everything simultaneously — custody transfers, data migration, and platform setup. This “all-at-once” approach can prevent disruptions in billing, fee structures, and account trading. Good data in means good data out, ensuring a seamless transition without operational hiccups.
4. We follow an efficient transition timeline
We aim to have advisors up and running on new tech within 45-60 days. During this period, advisors can focus on client communication while we ensure all backend processes are in place. Prioritizing custody transitions and onboarding at the same time can help prevent delays in billing and account management.
5. We offer initial and ongoing training
Once the transition is complete, we offer regular training sessions — both in groups and one-on-one.
6. We integrate asset management from day 1
Aptus sets up portfolios during onboarding, aligning investments with client goals from the beginning.
By handling the heavy lifting of onboarding and setup, we enable advisors to spend more time in front of clients and less time managing operations. Our hyper-personalized approach ensures that each firm gets exactly what it needs to succeed and scale from day one.
Curious to learn more? Contact us today.