LPL Investment Firm Selects Salesforce CRM
The Renaissance Group, LLC has been providing investment advice and financial services to individuals and businesses in Ventura, California and the surrounding area for more than ten years. The firm prides itself on providing an informed and unbiased approach to planning and investing. The independence of The Renaissance Group is demonstrated by the fact that its broker/dealer, LPL Financial, does not develop its own investment products, enabling its advisors to offer truly objective advice.
It is an industry where professional relationships are at the forefront and where accurate and complete record keeping is mandated. Assisting with both of these initiatives are Strategic Sales Systems and Salesforce CRM.
Invest in A Sure Bet
"We had been using ACT! by Sage, but without integration to our LPL Financial Branchnet system, its value was diminished. We had been searching for something better for five or six years," explains Russell Charvonia, a LPL Branch Manager offering access to securities through LPL Financial, Member FINRA/SIPC, and a principal with The Renaissance Group. "Then we heard that LPL Financial had partnered with Salesforce CRM to offer an industry-leading CRM solution designed and customized for independent financial advisors like us. When we heard about this partnership, we didn't hesitate; we were ready to move forward."
LPL Financial offered a list of three vendors that could help The Renaissance Group implement Salesforce CRM and migrate its existing data into the new software. "Strategic Sales Systems was the first of the three to respond to our request," recalls Charvonia. "One other responded later, but we appreciated the prompt, professional attention we received from Strategic Sales Systems and selected them to help us with the project."
Partner With The Best
Charvonia said the decision to engage Strategic Sales Systems has turned out to be a wise one: "We had a tricky migration, bringing data from three separate sources into Salesforce CRM. Strategic Sales Systems found a creative and effective way to accomplish it. It went flawlessly."
Single, Secure Database Saves Time
For The Renaissance Group, the single biggest benefit of the new system has come from having all client-related data in a single, secure database. "I have all client and investment data in a single application," says Charvonia. "I no longer have to juggle between different programs to find the data I need."
Charvonia estimates that this efficiency saves him at least one full hour each week. "When you consider 52 weeks in a year, and a billing rate of $200 an hour, the value of this time savings is quite significant."
Anywhere Access Boosts Convenience
As a small business, The Renaissance Group appreciates that there is no IT burden on the company because Salesforce CRM is a hosted solution. The software is accessed through a secure portal at LPL Financial.
"We don't have an additional server to maintain and software to install," Charvonia says. "Plus, the system is available to us anywhere we have Internet access. I can even access it on my smart phone. That kind of fast, convenient access makes for a truly usable solution."
Tailored Fit
Running a cloud-based application does not mean that the software cannot be customized to meet The Renaissance Group's needs. Strategic Sales Systems worked with the company to personalize the solution to meet the unique needs of its organization. "Strategic Sales Systems is very knowledgeable about both Salesforce and Branchnet, and are they very responsive to our needs," says Charvonia. "They even prepared a thorough systems manual for us."
Secure Record Keeping
As a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER Practitioner, Charvonia and his colleagues have obligation to determine the suitability of the investments they recommend and manage, based on clients' goals. They must provide full written disclosure concerning those investments. Salesforce CRM is being used to record these steps, providing secure electronic documentation of the conversations and correspondence between a financial planner and their clients.
In addition to effectively managing existing clients, Salesforce CRM can assist with new client acquisition by tracking the interactions and profiles of prospects and facilitating quick communication.
Long-Term Solution
The Renaissance Group has found a smart investment in Salesforce CRM and Strategic Sales Systems. "We have a solution for the long term," Charvonia concludes.