Device management for RIAs: A COO’s guide to supporting a hybrid work environment

Hybrid work offers registered investment advisory (RIA) and financial advisory firms unprecedented flexibility, but for a chief operating officer (COO), it also introduces significant operational and security complexities. When your team accesses sensitive client data from multiple locations, the devices they use become the new security perimeter. Maintaining control and compliance in this scattered environment […]

Predictable vs. unpredictable IT costs: How RIAs can avoid surprise bills

For many RIAs and financial advisors, IT budgeting is a moving target. You plan for the essentials, but surprise bills for emergency fixes, unexpected software renewals, and urgent compliance demands can complicate your budget. These volatile expenses often feel like an unavoidable cost of doing business, but they are not a given. Most of the […]

Copilot vs. ChatGPT: What RIAs Need to Know

AI tools like Microsoft Copilot and ChatGPT are changing how businesses work but not all AI is built the same. For RIAs, where data sensitivity and compliance are top priorities, understanding the difference matters. Here’s a simple breakdown of each tool, how they compare, and what to consider for your firm. What Is Microsoft Copilot? […]

Copilot for Web vs. Work: What’s the Difference—and Why It Matters for RIAs

Not all versions of Microsoft Copilot are created equal. If you’re using – or considering using Copilot in your RIA firm, it’s important to understand the difference between the version built into your Microsoft 365 environment (“Work”) and the web-based version (“Web”). Here’s a breakdown of what each version can do, where the data comes […]

Getting Started with Copilot: 10 Things to Try First

Just getting started with Microsoft Copilot in your RIA or financial advisory firm? One of the best ways to build confidence is to try a few simple, high-impact tasks. Microsoft has a helpful list of 10 common prompts to help new users discover what Copilot can do. Each of these actions taps into everyday workflows […]

How to Get Better Results from Microsoft Copilot

If you’re using Microsoft Copilot, you already know it can save you time. But are you getting the most out of it? The secret is in the prompt. Just like a great question leads to a better answer, a well-structured Copilot prompt leads to more useful, relevant, and accurate results. Whether you’re drafting emails, summarizing […]

Is Microsoft Copilot Secure Enough for RIA Firms?

AI can do amazing things – but for RIA or finacial advisor firms, any new tool must meet a high bar for compliance and data protection. Microsoft Copilot was built with that in mind. In this blog, we’ll break down what makes Copilot different when it comes to security, where your data lives, who can […]

What’s included in IT support? (And what RIAs often miss when choosing an IT partner)

You would never advise a client to invest in a fund without first understanding its underlying assets, strategy, and fee structure. Yet, many RIAs and financial advisors do exactly that when they invest in an IT partner. They sign up for IT support without a clear definition of what’s included, only to discover critical gaps […]

How to scale your RIA firm without outgrowing your tech stack

Your registered investment advisory (RIA) or financial advisory firm is growing — a great “problem” to have, until your technology can’t keep pace. You’re bringing in new clients and hiring more advisors, but the patchwork of software that got you here is now creating bottlenecks. Files are scattered, communication is fragmented, and routine tasks are […]