Best CRM for Solo and Small RIAs (2026)
Solo and small RIAs sit in the most-active zone of the advisor CRM market. The big wealthtech ecosystem (Orion, Envestnet, Fidelity) is built around mid-and-up firms, but the comparison content and software dollars are shifting back toward solos and small teams as more advisors break away from broker-dealers and start their own practices. The decision is harder than for an enterprise firm because you are buying for one to five users with limited budget, you are integrating with custodians and portfolio accounting yourself rather than handing it to ops, and you may be evaluating CRM and planning software at the same time.
This guide ranks the advisor CRM platforms that work well for solo and small RIAs in 2026. Pricing assumes a 1-3 user firm baseline. We exclude enterprise-tier platforms (Salesforce Financial Services Cloud, Practifi) because their pricing and complexity do not fit solo budgets. We include Wealthbox, Redtail, AdvisorEngine CRM, and the marketing-and-tax-planning adjacencies that solos pair with their CRM.
Top Picks
Top pick: **Wealthbox** for solo and small RIAs wanting the most modern advisor CRM with AI Notetaker built in and a 150+ wealthtech integration ecosystem. **Redtail (AdvisorEngine)** for solos already on Orion or planning to migrate to Orion portfolio accounting, where the integration is tight and the upgrade path is clean. **AdvisorEngine CRM** for Junxure refugees and solos who want CRM plus portal plus portfolio in one platform. **Wealthbox AI Notetaker** as the embedded AI scribe that comes with Wealthbox. **Holistiplan** as the tax-planning adjacency most commonly paired with the solo CRM stack. **Jump** for solos who want full-cycle AI across meetings, ops, and growth.
How We Picked
We evaluated each platform on solo-and-small-RIA criteria: total monthly cost at one to three users, implementation time without dedicated ops, integration ecosystem with custodians and portfolio accounting, mobile experience, AI features included versus bolt-on, and the upgrade path as the firm grows past five users. Pricing is verified against vendor sites as of 2026-05-11.
Ranked Recommendations
1. Wealthbox
Wealthbox is the most-popular advisor CRM at the solo and small RIA tier in 2026. Pricing is contact-sales with a 14-day free trial. The product wins on modern UI, broad integration ecosystem (150+ wealthtech partners), and embedded AI Notetaker that removes the need for a separate scribe subscription. The integration depth covers the custodians (Schwab, Fidelity, Pershing), portfolio accounting (Orion, Black Diamond, Tamarac), planning (eMoney, RightCapital, MoneyGuide), and tax-planning (Holistiplan) that solos typically use.
Best fit: solo and small RIAs that want a modern CRM with AI built in and a growth path to mid-market without re-platforming. Trade-off: pricing is on the higher end of the solo CRM market once additional users or modules are added. Solo advisors testing CRM for the first time often start on Wealthbox during the 14-day trial and commit if the workflow fits.
Verdict: #1-rated advisor CRM with AI Notetaker built in and 150+ wealthtech integrations.
Best for: Solo through mid-size RIAs wanting modern CRM with AI features
Pricing: Contact sales; 14-day free trial
2. Redtail (AdvisorEngine)
Redtail under AdvisorEngine ownership remains a strong CRM choice for solos and small RIAs, especially those tied to Orion portfolio accounting. Pricing is contact-sales with a 30-day free trial. The product has a long maturity track record (one of the longest-standing advisor CRMs) and tight integration with Orion's broader stack. For advisors who are already on Orion or planning to migrate to Orion within 12-18 months, Redtail's native Orion integration is the cleanest in the market.
Best fit: solos and small RIAs in the Orion ecosystem. Trade-off: the UI is older than Wealthbox or AdvisorEngine CRM, and the AI feature set is less embedded than Wealthbox's AI Notetaker. Advisors who care about modern UX often pick Wealthbox; advisors who care about Orion integration depth pick Redtail.
Verdict: Long-standing advisor CRM, now Orion-owned and tightly integrated to Orion stack.
Best for: RIAs already on Orion portfolio accounting
Pricing: Contact sales; 30-day free trial
3. AdvisorEngine CRM
AdvisorEngine CRM is the Junxure successor and now operates as a cloud-native advisor CRM with deep Orion and custodian integration. Pricing is contact-sales. Junxure refugees who migrated to the cloud version of the product are the core customer base; new buyers come from established Junxure customers upgrading and from solos who want CRM plus portal plus portfolio in one platform.
Best fit: established Junxure customers upgrading to the cloud, and small RIAs that want a unified platform across CRM, client portal, and integrated portfolio accounting. Trade-off: smaller customer base at the solo end than Wealthbox, and the integration ecosystem outside of Orion is narrower. AdvisorEngine CRM is the strongest pick for firms already inside the AdvisorEngine family; outside the family Wealthbox is usually the cleaner choice.
Verdict: Junxure successor: cloud-native CRM with deep Orion + custodian integrations.
Best for: Established Junxure customers; firms wanting CRM + portal + portfolio in one
Pricing: Contact sales
4. Wealthbox AI Notetaker
Wealthbox AI Notetaker is the embedded AI scribe inside Wealthbox CRM. Pricing is included in the Wealthbox plan. The Notetaker handles client meeting documentation, generates meeting summaries, and pushes follow-up items directly into the CRM record. For Wealthbox customers, the embedded scribe eliminates the need for a separate Jump or Zocks subscription.
Best fit: solos and small RIAs on Wealthbox wanting AI meeting scribe without a separate vendor relationship. Trade-off: the Notetaker is competitive but less feature-rich than Jump or Zocks at the upper end of capability. Solo advisors with simpler meeting documentation needs get full value from the embedded Notetaker; advisors with complex CRM-automation needs sometimes still add Jump or Zocks alongside.
Verdict: Native AI scribe inside the CRM; no separate integration.
Best for: Wealthbox customers wanting one less tool to manage
Pricing: Included in Wealthbox plan
5. Holistiplan
Holistiplan is the tax-planning software most commonly paired with solo and small RIA CRMs. Pricing is contact-sales with a 7-day free trial. The product OCRs a 1040 in about 45 seconds and surfaces tax-planning opportunities (Roth conversions, IRMAA brackets, AMT exposure, tax-loss harvesting candidates) that advisors then weave into client conversations. Integration with Wealthbox, RightCapital, and Redtail is solid.
Best fit: any solo or small RIA running tax-aware planning, particularly those serving retirees, high-income clients, or households with complex tax situations. Trade-off: this is a tax-planning tool, not a CRM. Pair with Wealthbox or Redtail as the underlying CRM. Solos that try to use Holistiplan as the primary client system create workflow gaps.
Verdict: #1-rated tax-planning software: OCR a 1040 in ~45 seconds.
Best for: Any advisor running tax-aware planning; integrates with Wealthbox/RightCapital
Pricing: Contact sales (7-day free trial)
6. Jump
Jump positions as the 'AI OS for advisors' with meeting notes, growth, and operations modules. Pricing is contact-sales with a free trial. 28,000+ advisors use it across RIAs and broker-dealer IBDs. For solos that want AI across the full client lifecycle (not just meeting scribe), Jump is the broadest stack in the AI category. The product extends from meeting documentation into prospecting, content generation, and operational automation.
Best fit: solos and small RIAs that want AI as a central workflow tool rather than just a scribe. Trade-off: not a CRM itself, so the buyer maintains a separate CRM subscription. Solos that buy Jump plus Wealthbox sometimes find the AI Notetaker overlap creates confusion; pick one or the other for meeting documentation.
Verdict: 'AI OS for advisors': meeting notes + grow + operate modules; 28K+ advisors.
Best for: RIAs and BD/IBDs wanting full-cycle AI across meetings, ops, and growth
Pricing: Contact sales; free trial
7. Zocks
Zocks is the privacy-first AI meeting assistant for advisors. Pricing is contact-sales. The product handles meeting notes, intake forms, CRM updates, and follow-ups with a strong compliance posture. For solos in regulated broker-dealer relationships or for solos serving institutional or HNW clients with internal data policies, Zocks's privacy-first architecture matters.
Best fit: solos with formal compliance posture requirements or who serve clients with internal data policies. Trade-off: smaller footprint than Wealthbox AI Notetaker or Jump in the solo segment. Solos without specific compliance requirements often pick the embedded Wealthbox option or Jump for the broader AI stack.
Verdict: Privacy-first AI assistant: meeting notes, intake forms, CRM updates, follow-ups.
Best for: Compliance-focused advisors wanting CRM/plan-tool automation
Pricing: Contact sales
What to Look For
Eight criteria matter when picking CRM as a solo or small RIA.
**Total monthly cost at your team size.** Per-user pricing scales with advisors plus support staff. A solo paying $79 per month for one Wealthbox seat is $948 per year. Adding an associate doubles that. Run the math at your actual headcount plus expected growth over 24 months.
**Integration with your custodian and portfolio accounting.** Schwab, Fidelity, Pershing, and TD legacy data flowing into the CRM should be native. Orion, Black Diamond, Tamarac portfolio data likewise. Wealthbox and Redtail handle the major custodians cleanly. AdvisorEngine CRM is strongest on Orion integration specifically.
**Integration with planning software.** eMoney, MoneyGuide, RightCapital, and Holistiplan should connect to the CRM without manual data export. Wealthbox has the broadest planning-software integration ecosystem. Redtail is solid. AdvisorEngine CRM is narrower outside the AdvisorEngine family.
**Mobile experience.** Solos take client meetings at coffee shops, country clubs, and client offices. The mobile app needs to handle CRM updates, document viewing, and meeting notes without connectivity issues. Wealthbox mobile is strongest. Redtail mobile is functional but feels older.
**AI Notetaker or scribe.** Meeting documentation eats 30-60 minutes per advisor per day. Embedded AI Notetaker (Wealthbox) eliminates this without a separate subscription. Standalone scribes (Jump, Zocks) win for advisors who want the AI to extend beyond meeting notes into prospecting, content, and ops automation.
**Compliance posture.** SEC RIA compliance, state-specific requirements, books-and-records retention, and email archival should integrate with the CRM. Wealthbox, Redtail, and AdvisorEngine CRM all handle this through partner integrations.
**Implementation time.** Solos do not have dedicated ops to manage a 90-day rollout. Look for platforms that ship with sensible defaults and 14-30 day go-live timelines. Wealthbox is fastest. Redtail is solid. AdvisorEngine CRM requires longer setup.
**Growth path past 5 users.** As a solo grows to a small team of 3-5, the CRM should scale without re-platforming. Wealthbox, Redtail, and AdvisorEngine CRM all handle this. Beyond 10-15 users firms often migrate to Salesforce Financial Services Cloud or Practifi, but the solo CRMs cover the small-team segment well.
Pricing Scenarios
**Solo advisor, single user:** Wealthbox at $50-$80 per user per month equivalent, Redtail at $99-$149 per month for a single-user firm package, or AdvisorEngine CRM at custom pricing. All-in first year including AI Notetaker: $1,000-$2,500.
**Solo with admin or paraplanner, 2-3 users:** Wealthbox at $100-$240 per month, Redtail at $149-$299 per month, or AdvisorEngine CRM at $200-$400 per month. All-in first year including planning software (Holistiplan or RightCapital) and AI scribe: $5,000-$15,000.
**Small RIA, 4-8 users:** Wealthbox at $300-$600 per month, Redtail at $400-$800 per month, or AdvisorEngine CRM at $600-$1,200 per month. All-in first year including full planning, tax-planning, and AI stack: $25,000-$60,000.
What to Avoid
**Picking the wrong CRM because of a custodian-specific deal.** Some custodians offer discounted CRM bundles. The discount is real but the CRM may not be the best fit. Pick CRM based on workflow fit first; take the custodian discount if it happens to align.
**Treating Outlook plus Excel as your CRM.** Advisors that try to scale past 50-75 clients on Outlook plus Excel hit operational drag fast. The transition cost from Outlook plus Excel to a real CRM is $2,000-$5,000 in advisor time during migration. Migrating earlier than later compounds the productivity gain.
**Buying Salesforce Financial Services Cloud at solo scale.** FSC pricing and implementation overhead assume 25+ users. Solos who buy FSC end up paying for features they cannot configure and implementation costs that erase the ROI. Wealthbox, Redtail, and AdvisorEngine CRM all handle solo workflows better at lower cost.
**Ignoring AI Notetaker during evaluation.** Embedded AI Notetaker saves 30-60 minutes per advisor per day on meeting documentation. Solos that skip the Notetaker during evaluation miss the productivity gain that justifies most of the CRM cost. Test the Notetaker during the trial with real client meetings, not just demo scripts.
Questions to Ask Vendors
- What is the total monthly cost at our user count, including AI Notetaker and required modules?
- How does the CRM integrate with our custodian (Schwab, Fidelity, Pershing) and portfolio accounting (Orion, Black Diamond)?
- What is the AI Notetaker capability, and is it included or a separate subscription?
- What planning software (eMoney, RightCapital, Holistiplan) integrates natively?
- What is the mobile app like for advisors taking client meetings out of office?
- What is the implementation timeline and what advisor time should we budget?
- What does compliance integration look like for SEC RIA requirements and state-specific obligations?
- What is the upgrade path if we add a second advisor or grow past 5 users?
- What does customer support look like at the solo tier, and what is the response time SLA?
- Are there custodian or association discounts available?
Frequently Asked Questions
Wealthbox vs Redtail for a solo or small RIA: how do you choose?
Wealthbox wins for solos and small RIAs that want a modern UI, broad integration ecosystem, and embedded AI Notetaker as part of the platform. Redtail wins for solos already tied to Orion portfolio accounting or planning to migrate to Orion within 12-18 months. The integration depth with Orion is meaningfully tighter with Redtail under AdvisorEngine ownership. Both products are credible 2026 picks. Solos who do not have an Orion preference usually pick Wealthbox for the AI Notetaker and the modern workflow.
Should I add Jump or Zocks on top of Wealthbox AI Notetaker?
Usually no, but sometimes yes. Wealthbox AI Notetaker handles meeting documentation and CRM updates cleanly. Jump and Zocks add value beyond meeting scribe: Jump for full-stack AI across prospecting, content, and ops; Zocks for privacy-first compliance posture. Solos with complex AI workflow needs sometimes layer Jump or Zocks. Solos with standard advisor workflow usually get full value from Wealthbox Notetaker without paying twice.
When does a solo outgrow an advisor CRM like Wealthbox?
Most solos do not outgrow Wealthbox even as they grow to a small team. Wealthbox handles 1-15 users comfortably. Firms that grow past 15-25 users with complex ops, multiple offices, or institutional client mix sometimes migrate to Salesforce Financial Services Cloud or Practifi. The migration is a 6-12 month project with meaningful implementation cost. Most solos in the small RIA tier should plan to stay on Wealthbox or Redtail for at least 5-7 years.
Do I need both a CRM and a financial planning tool?
Yes, almost always. The CRM handles client relationships, communication, tasks, and books-and-records compliance. The financial planning tool (eMoney, MoneyGuide, RightCapital) handles plan generation, Monte Carlo analysis, retirement projections, and client deliverables. The two systems integrate but serve different purposes. Solos that try to use just a CRM create gaps in planning deliverables; solos that try to use just planning software create gaps in compliance and relationship management.
What is the realistic budget for CRM plus planning plus tax software for a 2-user RIA?
Plan for $8,000-$20,000 per year all-in. Wealthbox at $150-$240 per month covers CRM. RightCapital or eMoney at $200-$400 per month covers planning. Holistiplan at $200-$300 per month covers tax planning. Add another $100-$300 per month for compliance archival and email tools. Solo budgets at the lower end skip eMoney for RightCapital and skip Holistiplan if tax-planning is not a core service line. Small RIAs adding a second advisor double the cost on per-user products.
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Reviewed by Rome Thorndike. Last verified 2026-05-12.
Pricing, features, and ratings are based on vendor documentation, public filings, product demos, and feedback from sales teams using these tools in production. We update reviews when vendors ship major releases or change pricing.