InvestCloud forges partnership with Focus firm Buckingham

InvestCloud forges partnership with Focus firm Buckingham
The global wealth tech provider is helping the $70B RIA firm boost its advisors’ efficiency through a multi-phase project.
JUL 17, 2024

InvestCloud has expanded its web of fintech partnerships as it collaborates with a major entity within the Focus Financial network of RIA firms.

On Wednesday, the global wealth tech provider unveiled a deal with Buckingham Strategic Wealth and its sister company Buckingham Strategic Partners to enhance their financial advisor experience.

The multi-phase collaboration aims to boost advisor productivity and improve client interactions at Buckingham through advanced digital capabilities.

InvestCloud is starting off Buckingham’s tech transformation by implementing its Advisor Experience for the firm’s advisors, giving them an integrated digital platform that combines various systems into one seamless interface.

This integration promises to let advisors focus more attention on client engagement rather than administrative tasks – a priority for a large enterprise like Buckingham, which reported over $70 billion in assets administered or managed as of March 31, 2024.

In a statement Wednesday, Kapin Vora, president of digital wealth North America at InvestCloud, called the deal “a strong proof point” of the fintech platform’s ability to increase advisor efficiency.

 “We’re excited about the opportunity to help Buckingham transform their advisor experience,” Vora said.

The InvestCloud platform combines multiple systems and data sources, including CRM and financial planning tools, into a single dashboard. With a central location to access clients’ information, the feature lets advisors efficiently respond to client requests, execute scenario planning, and prepare for meetings.

"One of our top priorities is to enhance the digital experience we deliver for our advisors, and in particular, time-saving capabilities that will enable them to best serve their clients,” said Adam Birenbaum, CEO of Buckingham Strategic Wealth and Buckingham Strategic Partners.

It’s worth noting that Birenbaum is also the new CEO of the Colony Group, one of the major hubs in Focus Financial’s ongoing intra-network merger strategy. Under an agreement announced in May, Buckingham was absorbed into Colony, and Birenbaum was named to step up as CEO of the combined entity.

InvestCloud says the next steps in their partnership will include a new client experience tailored to various client personas and a revamped prospect experience, scheduled to roll out over the next year.

"The early feedback is extremely positive, and we look forward to continued enhancements that will further enable high-quality and seamless advisor experiences,” Birenbaum said.

Latest News

Investing for accountability: How to frame a values-driven conversation with clients
Investing for accountability: How to frame a values-driven conversation with clients

By listening for what truly matters and where clients want to make a difference, advisors can avoid politics and help build more personal strategies.

Advisor moves: Raymond James ends week with $1B Commonwealth recruitment streak
Advisor moves: Raymond James ends week with $1B Commonwealth recruitment streak

JPMorgan and RBC have also welcomed ex-UBS advisors in Texas, while Steward Partners and SpirePoint make new additions in the Sun Belt.

Cook Lawyer says fraud claims are Trump’s ‘weapon of choice’
Cook Lawyer says fraud claims are Trump’s ‘weapon of choice’

Counsel representing Lisa Cook argued the president's pattern of publicly blasting the Fed calls the foundation for her firing into question.

SEC orders Vanguard, Empower to pay more than $25M over failures linked to advisor compensation
SEC orders Vanguard, Empower to pay more than $25M over failures linked to advisor compensation

The two firms violated the Advisers Act and Reg BI by making misleading statements and failing to disclose conflicts to retail and retirement plan investors, according to the regulator.

RIA moves: Wells Fargo pair joins &Partners in Virginia
RIA moves: Wells Fargo pair joins &Partners in Virginia

Elsewhere, two breakaway teams from Morgan Stanley and Merrill unite to form a $2 billion RIA, while a Texas-based independent merges with a Bay Area advisory practice.

SPONSORED How advisors can build for high-net-worth complexity

Orion's Tom Wilson on delivering coordinated, high-touch service in a world where returns alone no longer set you apart.

SPONSORED RILAs bring stability, growth during volatile markets

Barely a decade old, registered index-linked annuities have quickly surged in popularity, thanks to their unique blend of protection and growth potential—an appealing option for investors looking to chart a steadier course through today's choppy market waters, says Myles Lambert, Brighthouse Financial.