Wealth Management Software Development
Wealth management platforms costing $200k but advisors spend 15+ hours weekly on manual consolidation? Client portals that don't sync with your CRM? We've built fintech systems for 60+ wealth management firms. Our systems connect multiple custodians, CRM, and planning tools into unified workflows. Most advisors recover 15-25 hours weekly. SEC/FINRA-compliant in 12-20 weeks.
Common Industry Challenges
Organizations face unique challenges that impact operations, compliance, and efficiency.
Fragmented Custodian Data & Manual Reconciliation Hell
Description
Your firm holds accounts at Schwab, Fidelity, Pershing, and Altruist. Each with proprietary formats and daily reconciliation headaches. Advisors waste 8-15 hours weekly manually downloading files, reconciling discrepancies, and building outdated reports. You've invested $150k-$300k in platforms promising seamless integration, but data fields don't map correctly and corporate actions require manual work. Your team has become data entry clerks instead of advisors.
Impact
Our Software Solutions
Types of Software We Develop
We specialize in complex, data-heavy industrial applications where off-the-shelf software falls short.

Portfolio Management Systems (PMS)
Description
Comprehensive platforms managing investment portfolios, performance reporting, billing, and custodian integrations for RIAs and wealth managers. Modern PMS solutions aggregate data from multiple custodians, calculate time-weighted and dollar-weighted returns, generate client reports, and support billing based on AUM or other fee structures. Integration with trading platforms enables rebalancing and tax-loss harvesting workflows. Best custom PMS solutions handle your specific custodian mix, reporting requirements, and billing models rather than forcing you into vendor-defined workflows. They provide API access for data extraction and integration with other advisor technology.
Key Modules & Features
Real World Use Cases
How we apply our engineering standards to solve complex problems.
Technologies & Integrations
| System Type | Common Tools | Our Capabilities |
|---|---|---|
| Custodian & Brokerage Integrations | Schwab Advisor Center API, Fidelity Wealthscape API, Pershing NetX360, Altruist API, Interactive Brokers, TD Ameritrade, E*TRADE, Raymond James, LPL Financial, Apex Clearing | Direct API integration for position downloads, transaction history, and account data; automated file processing for custodians without APIs; real-time position synchronization and corporate action processing; trade order submission and execution reporting; document retrieval for statements and confirmations; client onboarding and account opening workflows |
| Portfolio Management & Reporting Platforms | Orion Advisor Solutions, Black Diamond, Addepar, Tamarac, PortfolioCenter, Morningstar Office Cloud, Advent APX, AllVue Systems, Envestnet | Performance calculation and attribution analysis; customizable client reporting with branding; benchmark comparison and risk analytics; billing calculation and fee invoice generation; tax-lot tracking and realized gain/loss reporting; model portfolio management and rebalancing workflows; integration with custodian data feeds |
| Financial Planning Software | eMoney Advisor, MoneyGuidePro, RightCapital, NaviPlan, Conquest Planning, Advizr, Holistiplan (tax planning), Income Lab (retirement distribution) | Retirement projection with Monte Carlo simulation; goal-based planning and probability analysis; Tax planning scenario modeling; Estate planning with beneficiary and trust modeling; Social Security optimization analysis; Integration with portfolio management for plan-driven recommendations; Client collaboration portals for plan review |
| CRM & Client Management Systems | Redtail CRM, Salesforce Financial Services Cloud, Wealthbox, Junxure, Practifi, SmartOffice, Microsoft Dynamics 365 | Household relationship and beneficiary tracking; Communication archiving and supervision for compliance; Task and workflow management for client service; Pipeline management for prospect tracking; Calendar integration and meeting scheduling; Automated data import from custodians and portfolio systems; Marketing automation and client segmentation |
| Compliance & Supervision Platforms | Hadrius (90%+ time savings), Smartria (1,000+ firms), Smarsh archiving, Global Relay, Actiance, RIA in a Box, MyComplianceOffice, ComplyStream, Omega Compliance | Communication archiving for email, text, and social media; Personal trading monitoring and code of ethics tracking; Marketing material review with AI-powered violation detection; Form ADV auto-population and regulatory filing; Outside business activity and political contribution tracking; Examination response documentation and audit trails |
Custom vs. Off-the-Shelf Software
Understanding the differences helps you make the right choice for your organization.
Details:
Built for your specific custodian mix with direct API integration. New custodian relationships added in 4-6 weeks. Complete data mapping handles all fields your firm needs. No compromises or manual reconciliation.Details:
Limited to vendor-supported custodians, often missing critical data fields. Adding new custodian relationships requires vendor development. 6-18 month delays common. Data reconciliation issues require manual intervention.Details:
Compliance automation integrated into actual business workflows. Captures data as part of normal operations. Automated regulatory reporting pulls from operational systems. SEC/FINRA requirements built-in from day one.Details:
Generic compliance modules don't match your firm's actual workflows. Requires duplicate data entry into compliance systems separate from business operations. Regulatory reporting needs manual compilation.Details:
You own all client data in open formats with complete export capabilities. Full database access for custom reporting and analytics. No vendor lock-in. Your business data stays your business data.Details:
Vendor owns your client data in proprietary formats. Extracting complete historical data for platform switching is difficult or impossible. You're held hostage if you want to leave.Details:
$75k-$500k one-time development investment. Predictable maintenance ~15-20% annually. You control upgrade priorities and timing. 5-year cost typically 40-60% less than subscription platforms.Details:
$150k-$400k annually forever with escalating per-advisor or per-account fees. Hidden costs for premium features, additional users, and data storage. 5-year cost: $750k-$2M+ with constant price increases.Details:
Built around your exact advisory workflows, client service model, and business processes. Software adapts to you, not the other way around. Updates preserve customizations because you control the code.Details:
Rigid workflows force you to adapt your advisory practice to software limitations. Customizations cost $50k-$200k and break with vendor updates. Most vendors won't customize for individual firms.Details:
Consumer-grade portal experience with institutional security. Complete branding control and custom features. Account aggregation shows complete financial picture. Mobile-first design ensures excellent phone experience.Details:
Generic portals with limited branding and fixed functionality. Mobile experience often broken. No integration of outside accounts or financial planning outputs. Clients compare unfavorably to consumer apps.Why RIAs, Wealth Managers & FinTech Firms Choose StepInsight
Certifications & Expertise
- Financial services domain expertise (SEC, FINRA, ASIC regulatory knowledge)
- Cloud infrastructure specialists (Google Cloud, Azure)
- Cybersecurity and data protection (encryption, access control, audit trails)
- Custodian API integration experience (Schwab, Fidelity, Pershing, Altruist, etc.)
- Payment processing and banking systems (ACH, wire, card networks)
- Mobile application development (iOS, Android, Progressive Web Apps)
Industries Served
- Registered Investment Advisors (RIAs) and wealth management firms
- Multi-family offices and private wealth services
- Bank trust and investment divisions
- Independent broker-dealers and hybrid advisors
- Digital banking startups and neobank platforms
- Asset management and investment operations
- FinTech companies building advisor or investor tools
- Insurance and annuity distribution platforms
Services
- Portfolio management system development
- Client portal and account aggregation platforms
- SEC/FINRA compliance automation systems
- CRM and advisor workflow solutions
- Custodian data aggregation and reconciliation
- Trading and rebalancing platform development
- Digital banking and neobank core systems
- Legacy financial software modernization
Stop Wasting $150k+ on Disconnected Platforms
Book a free 60-minute FinTech strategy call. We'll review your custodian relationships, tech stack, and workflows. Then provide honest assessment whether custom development makes sense or commercial platforms fit better. No sales pressure. Most calls identify $40k-$100k in immediate efficiency opportunities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Custom financial software development builds portfolio management, compliance, and client portal systems tailored to your specific custodian relationships, advisory workflows, and regulatory requirements. Rather than forcing you into rigid vendor-defined processes. While off-the-shelf platforms like Orion, Black Diamond, or Envestnet offer standardized features requiring you to adapt your practice to their limitations, custom development creates solutions matching exactly how your firm operates. You'll get custodian integrations handling your specific mix of Schwab, Fidelity, Pershing, or Altruist accounts without manual reconciliation. Compliance automation meets your SEC or FINRA requirements integrated into actual workflows, not separate databases requiring duplicate entry. Most importantly, you own the code and client data. No vendor holding your business hostage if you want to switch or modify functionality. Investment typically ranges $75k-$500k one-time versus $150k-$400k annually forever for platform subscriptions, with custom solutions often costing 40-60% less over five years while delivering better operational fit.
Custom wealth management software development typically costs $75k-$500k depending on custodian integration complexity, compliance requirements, and feature scope. Basic portfolio management with 2-3 custodian integrations runs $75k-$150k. Mid-range solutions adding compliance automation, client portals, and CRM integration cost $150k-$300k. Advanced platforms with trading integration, financial planning workflows, and multi-office support range $300k-$500k+. Most advisory firms achieve ROI in 10-18 months through advisor productivity gains. We typically see 15-25 hours recovered weekly per advisor previously spent on data reconciliation and system navigation. Additional benefits from eliminated subscription fees ($50k-$150k annually), improved client retention, and increased firm capacity accelerate payback. Compare this to off-the-shelf platforms at $150k-$400k annually forever. Over five years you'll spend $750k-$2M+ on subscriptions while remaining constrained by vendor limitations and escalating pricing. Custom development costs more upfront but delivers better long-term value for firms managing $300M+ AUM or with complex custodian/compliance requirements.
Yes, we specialize in multi-custodian integration despite each having proprietary data formats and API limitations. We've integrated Schwab Advisor Center, Fidelity Wealthscape, Pershing NetX360, Altruist, Interactive Brokers, TD Ameritrade, LPL Financial, Raymond James, and 100+ other custodians into unified portfolio management platforms. Our integration approach combines direct API connections where available with automated file processing for custodians lacking modern APIs, then normalizes data into consistent formats your portfolio management and reporting systems can consume. This enables real-time multi-custodian client views, automated corporate action processing, and unified performance reporting regardless of where assets are held. Most advisory firms have mixed custodian relationships because they select best providers for different client needs. Not limiting themselves to single custodians for dubious integration promises. Our platforms eliminate $40k-$100k annually in manual reconciliation overhead while providing better data accuracy than custodian-provided integrations. Integration typically takes 10-16 weeks depending on custodian count and complexity, with phased rollout minimizing operational disruption.
We build SEC and FINRA compliance directly into financial software architecture from day one. Not bolted-on afterthoughts. Compliance automation includes communication archiving meeting SEC Rule 17a-4 and FINRA supervision requirements, capturing emails, texts, and client interactions with immutable storage and audit trails. Personal trading monitoring tracks employee transactions against restricted securities lists and code of ethics policies with automated attestation workflows. Marketing material review uses AI-powered content analysis flagging potential violations before publication. Firms using our compliance automation report 90%+ time savings in review processes. Form ADV updates pull current data from operational systems rather than requiring manual compilation. Outside business activity, political contribution, and gifts/entertainment tracking happens through automated workflows, not spreadsheets. Our platforms maintain comprehensive audit trails logging all data access, changes, and administrative actions needed for regulatory examinations. Most firms reduce compliance workload from 12-20 hours weekly to 3-5 hours while improving examination readiness. We're not compliance consultants. We build technology automating compliance activities your CCO currently does manually. Partner with your compliance consultant or hire one separately for regulatory guidance.
Modern clients expect consumer-grade experiences matching retail platforms like Schwab, Vanguard, or Personal Capital. Not basic custodian portals or static PDF reports. Essential features include real-time portfolio views aggregating all custodian relationships into unified performance reporting, not month-end static snapshots. Account aggregation showing complete financial picture beyond assets you manage. 401(k)s, bank accounts, real estate, liabilities. For net worth tracking. Mobile-first responsive design ensuring excellent phone and tablet experience with biometric authentication, not desktop-only portals. Secure document vault with organized access to statements, tax documents, and estate planning files rather than email attachments. Encrypted messaging providing secure advisor-client communication meeting regulatory requirements. Financial planning integration showing progress toward retirement, education, or other goals with visual tracking. Personalized dashboards highlighting relevant information based on client life stage or relationship phase. Automated onboarding workflows guiding new clients through portal setup without advisor hand-holding. Our custom client portals typically reduce support calls by 60-80% while improving client satisfaction scores because navigation is intuitive and mobile experience actually works.
Custom wealth management software development typically takes 12-20 weeks for core platform functionality with phased rollout minimizing operational disruption. Timeline depends on custodian integration complexity, compliance automation scope, and advisor workflow customization requirements. Discovery and planning phase (2-4 weeks) includes detailed requirements analysis, custodian API documentation review, workflow mapping, and integration testing with your key systems. Initial development sprint (6-10 weeks) builds core platform with highest-priority capabilities. Typically custodian data aggregation, portfolio reporting, or compliance automation delivering immediate value. Testing and refinement (2-4 weeks) involves advisor validation, workflow adjustments, and integration debugging with real client data. Training and deployment (1-2 weeks) happens gradually, starting with power users before full team rollout. Advanced features like financial planning integration, trading automation, or sophisticated client portals deploy in subsequent phases after core platform is stable. This phased approach delivers value quickly while managing risk. Unlike platform implementations promising 8-12 weeks but often taking 6-18 months before being fully operational. We're honest upfront if your project will take longer due to unusual complexity. Most advisory firms are using core platform within 14-18 weeks of project kickoff.
Yes, modern financial software architecture emphasizes integration with existing best-of-breed systems rather than forcing all-in-one compromises. We build API-first platforms connecting with major advisor technology: CRM systems (Salesforce Financial Services Cloud, Redtail, Wealthbox, Junxure) for unified client data synchronization; financial planning software (eMoney, MoneyGuidePro, RightCapital, NaviPlan) to translate plan outputs into portfolio recommendations; document management (DocuSign, ShareFile, Laserfiche) for secure storage and e-signature workflows; and compliance platforms (Smarsh, Global Relay, Hadrius) for communication archiving and supervision. Integration approach depends on vendor API capabilities. Some provide robust APIs enabling real-time data exchange, others require scheduled file transfers or screen scraping. Our platforms serve as data orchestration layer unifying information from multiple sources into single advisor dashboard and ensuring data updated in one system reflects everywhere. This eliminates duplicate data entry while letting you use specialized tools for planning, CRM, or compliance rather than accepting inferior integrated modules. Most advisory firms prefer this approach over all-in-one platforms because it enables selecting best tools for each function rather than accepting vendor compromises.
Custom financial software implements institutional-grade cybersecurity meeting SEC, FINRA, and ASIC regulatory requirements for client data protection. Multi-factor authentication protects all system access with device trust, conditional access policies, and biometric options for mobile applications. End-to-end encryption secures data in transit using TLS 1.3 and at rest using AES-256 encryption. Role-based access control limits data visibility to minimum necessary access with automated user provisioning and deprovisioning workflows. Security monitoring detects anomalous access patterns, potential breaches, and policy violations with real-time alerting and automated incident response. Automated backup with disaster recovery maintains 30-day point-in-time recovery capability with tested restoration procedures and offsite replication. Vulnerability management includes automated security patching, annual penetration testing, and continuous security assessment documentation. Comprehensive audit trails log all data access, changes, and administrative actions meeting regulatory examination requirements. Cloud infrastructure (Google Cloud, Azure, GCP) provides SOC 2 compliance, DDoS protection, and infrastructure security managed by providers spending billions annually on security. Most financial firms reduce cybersecurity risk moving to modern cloud platforms versus aging on-premise servers lacking professional security management.
Data migration from existing systems requires careful planning to preserve historical accuracy while minimizing operational disruption. Our migration approach starts with comprehensive data inventory documenting all information in current systems. Client records, account histories, transactions, documents, performance data, and billing records. We analyze data quality identifying gaps, inconsistencies, or errors requiring cleanup before migration. Migration strategy typically uses phased approach: first migrating core client and account data while systems run in parallel, then adding transaction history and performance data, finally cutting over completely once advisors validate accuracy. Most migrations involve extract-transform-load (ETL) processes pulling data from source systems, transforming formats and structures to match target platform, and loading with validation checks ensuring integrity. Historical performance data often requires special handling to maintain calculation accuracy and benchmark alignment. We provide reconciliation reports showing before/after comparisons so advisors can validate critical client information transferred correctly. Parallel operation period (typically 2-4 weeks) lets advisors use both systems until confidence is established. Most firms complete full migration within 6-10 weeks while maintaining normal client service operations. Critical success factor is advisor involvement validating migrated data for their clients before cutting over completely.
Custom software's primary advantage is adaptability. Your platform grows with your firm rather than forcing you into vendor-defined upgrade paths. Modular architecture enables adding new capabilities without disrupting existing functionality. Adding custodian relationships typically takes 4-6 weeks for new API integration and data mapping rather than 6-18 months waiting for vendor support. New features deploy through standard software development cycles. Requirements gathering, development, testing, and rollout. Usually completing in 6-12 weeks depending on complexity. You control prioritization and timing rather than hoping vendors add features you need. Code ownership means you can hire other developers if needed, though most firms prefer continuing with original development team who understand the architecture. Scaling infrastructure happens automatically with cloud platforms. Adding users, data volume, or processing capacity doesn't require hardware purchases or capacity planning. Pricing for enhancements typically uses time-and-materials or fixed-bid approach depending on scope clarity. Annual maintenance (15-20% of original development cost) covers bug fixes, security patches, and minor enhancements. Major new capabilities are additional development projects priced separately. Most advisory firms budget $30k-$80k annually for ongoing platform evolution and optimization.
Yes, multi-RIA or multi-office architecture is common requirement for holding companies, aggregator platforms, or firms with multiple registration structures. We design platforms with role-based access enabling firm-level separation while providing consolidated reporting and management visibility. Each RIA or office can maintain separate branding, fee schedules, compliance policies, and advisor teams while sharing underlying infrastructure and data architecture. Corporate dashboards aggregate performance, billing, and operational metrics across all entities for holding company visibility. Advisors see only their firm's clients while compliance officers and executives access cross-firm data as needed. This approach delivers economies of scale. One platform supporting multiple entities costs far less than separate systems for each firm. Data segregation ensures regulatory compliance for separate SEC registrations or state requirements. Firms adding RIAs through acquisition can onboard new entities in weeks rather than forcing them onto rigid enterprise platforms. One holding company we support runs seven separate RIA firms on shared platform. Total technology cost per firm is 60% less than when each operated independent systems. Multi-office support is typically included in initial architecture planning rather than expensive upgrade later.
Yes, we develop custom digital banking and neobank platforms for fintech startups requiring product differentiation impossible with white-label solutions like Unit, Synctera, or Treasury Prime. Custom neobank development provides complete product control, customer data ownership, and superior unit economics versus platform providers charging per-account fees that penalize growth. Core banking infrastructure handles account opening with KYC/AML verification, deposit account management with real-time ledger, payment processing through ACH, wire, and debit card networks, and integration with banking-as-a-service providers (Evolve Bank, Cross River, etc.) for regulatory compliance and FDIC insurance. We build differentiated features defining your neobank. Whether savings automation, budgeting integration, crypto on-ramps, B2B banking, or specialized lending products. Development typically takes 9-24 months for full-featured platforms depending on regulatory complexity and feature scope. Investment ranges $250k-$1.5M+ for complete neobank launch. This sounds expensive versus white-label platforms promising $50k-$150k setup fees, but unit economics favor custom development at scale. One client saved $800k annually in platform fees once they reached 20,000 active accounts. Custom platforms provide strategic flexibility for fundraising, acquisition, or product evolution impossible when dependent on platform providers.




