Managed IT Services for RIAs and Wealth Management Firms

Your Technology Should Help You Serve Clients, Not Get in the Way

Registered Investment Advisors and wealth management firms run on technology. Portfolio management, financial planning, CRM, custodial integrations, client portals, compliance documentation, and secure communication all depend on systems that work reliably, work together, and stay protected. When technology fails, advisors lose time, clients lose confidence, and the firm loses ground.

Framework IT provides managed IT services built for firms like yours. We handle your IT support, IT strategy, and cybersecurity so your advisors and operations staff can focus on serving clients and growing the business.

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Why RIAs and Wealth Management Firms Need a Different Kind of IT Partner

Most small to mid-size advisory firms have between 5 and 50 employees. That is too small to justify a full internal IT department, but the technology demands are anything but small. The average RIA relies on five or more distinct software platforms that need to work together, and industry research shows that no firm has fully solved the integration challenge. Staff still re-key data between systems, advisors deal with inconsistent client portals, and compliance teams scramble to document security controls.

On top of that, the regulatory environment is tightening. The SEC has made cybersecurity a top examination priority, and new amendments to Regulation S-P require written cybersecurity policies, 30-day breach notification processes, and documented vendor accountability. Firms that treat technology as an afterthought face real consequences: audit findings, insurance claim denials, lost prospects, and lower enterprise valuations.

Framework IT understands this environment. Key members of our team, including the virtual CIO (vCIO) assigned to your account, have direct experience supporting RIAs and firms that adhere to FINRA regulations. We currently support approximately a dozen family offices, including several that operate on behalf of well-known high-net-worth individuals. We know what it takes to protect sensitive financial data, meet compliance requirements, and keep advisors productive.

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What We Provide

IT Support That Keeps Your Firm Running

When an advisor cannot access a client portal, a custodial integration breaks, or a new hire needs to be provisioned on day one, the response needs to be fast and competent. Framework IT provides:

Unlimited help desk support via phone, email, chat, Microsoft Teams, or our portal, with an average response time under 5 minutes
A dedicated Help Desk Team/Pod assigned to your firm, so the same engineers support you over time, learn your environment, and resolve issues faster
Multi-vendor coordination, including managing relationships with your internet providers, software vendors, and hardware manufacturers
Complete onboarding and offboarding of advisors and staff, including user provisioning, device configuration, access controls, and license management
Proactive monitoring and maintenance 24/7, so issues are caught and resolved before they affect your team
Mac and Windows support, covering approximately 15 to 20 percent Mac environments across our client base

Approximately 70 percent of our clients have no internal IT staff. For them, we function as their complete IT department. For firms with internal IT resources, we offer a Co-Managed Services plan with clearly defined responsibilities so nothing falls through the cracks.

IT Strategy Aligned with Your Growth

Technology spending among advisory firms averages 3.8 percent of revenue, with top performers investing 4.2 to 5 percent. But spending alone does not produce results. What matters is whether technology investments connect to specific business outcomes: growth capacity, client experience, compliance readiness, and operational efficiency.

Every Framework IT client receives a dedicated virtual CIO (vCIO) who serves as a strategic technology advisor at no additional cost. Your vCIO:

Conducts a comprehensive technology assessment covering infrastructure, endpoints, applications, cybersecurity posture, processes, and documentation
Builds a technology roadmap aligned with your business goals, budget, and risk tolerance
Provides technology budgeting and lifecycle management, including annual budget forecasts and phased replacement schedules
Guides tech stack consolidation, helping you eliminate redundancies and select tools with strong API compatibility
Advises on AI and automation adoption, identifying real-world use cases for your firm
Supports M&A readiness, ensuring your technology infrastructure can be quickly assessed, integrated, or separated during transactions
Manages vendor relationships and contract negotiations so you are not overpaying or underserved

Framework IT does not pay sales commissions to vCIOs, eliminating conflicts of interest. The advice your vCIO provides is in your interest, not ours.

We meet with you for Strategic Business Reviews at least twice per year (typically quarterly), where we review technology performance, present lifecycle reports, update your roadmap, and forecast expenses. We are so committed to this that if we fail to deliver at least two reviews per year, we credit your account $500.

Cybersecurity That Meets Regulatory Requirements and Protects Client Trust

For wealth management firms, a data breach is not just a technical problem. It is a client relationship crisis, a regulatory event, and a potential threat to the firm's reputation and valuation. The SEC's cybersecurity requirements, cyber liability insurance mandates, and the increasing sophistication of attacks targeting financial services firms all demand a serious, layered approach.

Framework IT includes a comprehensive cybersecurity stack with every managed services agreement at no additional charge:

Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) powered by SentinelOne, with AI-driven threat detection and automated response
24/7/365 Managed Detection and Response (MDR) through BlackPoint Cyber, a SOC 2 Type 2 certified Security Operations Center that detects and contains threats within minutes
Advanced email security via Mimecast, protecting against phishing, spoofing, business email compromise, and ransomware
Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) enforced across all systems
Security awareness training through KnowBe4, with simulated phishing campaigns and ongoing micro-learning
Dark web monitoring for compromised credentials associated with your organization
SIEM logging for threat intelligence, compliance auditing, and forensic investigation
Managed Application Control to block unauthorized or risky software
Automated vulnerability scanning to identify gaps before they are exploited
Enterprise-grade backup and disaster recovery through Axcient, with immutable AirGap protection, automated verification, and recovery times under one hour in ideal conditions

This stack meets over 97 percent of cyber liability insurance requirements, and our clients typically see 20 to 40 percent lower insurance premiums as a result.

Supporting Your Compliance Obligations

Your vCIO works directly with your compliance officer to implement technology controls aligned with SEC and FINRA requirements, provide documentation and reporting for compliance audits, assist with annual security risk assessments and cybersecurity questionnaires, develop and maintain written security policies (Acceptable Use, Password, Incident Response, Data Backup and Recovery, Remote Access, Mobile Device, Vendor Management, and more), and coordinate on incident response plans and breach notification procedures.

All employee-facing policies include attestation workflows so your firm can demonstrate documented proof of awareness for insurance and compliance purposes.

Important note: Framework IT is not a compliance consulting firm and does not provide legal or regulatory advice. We provide the technology infrastructure and cybersecurity controls that support your compliance efforts, working collaboratively with your compliance officer or outside counsel.

Who We Work With

We support over 300 clients, with 93 receiving our comprehensive managed services. Our clients range from 3 to 230 users, with the majority between 20 and 100 employees. We hold certifications from CompTIA, Cisco, Microsoft, AWS, VMware, and ITIL, and we are a Microsoft Silver Partner with a Modern Work Designation. Our team is active in MSP peer groups including IT Nation Evolve, Service Leadership, and Sea Level/Pax8 Consulting, and we attend 8 or more industry trade shows annually.

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Why Framework IT

41 full-time, U.S.-based employees with 30 engineers across varied tiers and specializations
Direct RIA and family office experience among key staff, including your assigned vCIO
Industry-leading service metrics: Net Promoter Score of 75, Customer Satisfaction of 96%, Client Retention Rate of 96%
11 Partnership Guarantees, including a 30-day money-back guarantee, a "try us before you commit" month-to-month trial period, no surprise billing, and a commitment to strategic planning
A pricing model that rewards best practices: Our Business Optimization Framework lowers your monthly cost as you align with IT best practices, creating a true win-win partnership
Comprehensive documentation and self-serve resources maintained in IT Glue and your firm-specific SharePoint, including SOPs, security policies, knowledgebase articles, and training platforms
Pre-configured equipment storage and rapid deployment, so new advisors are productive on day one

30%

Improve Resolution Times

15+

Years Of Experience

100%

Satisfaction Guarantee

Our Services

Secure AI & Automation

Accelerate AI adoption with a managed service designed for security, governance, and long-term success. Our Secure AI & Automation solutions provide a dedicated AI advisor, structured implementation, employee training, and ongoing optimization to help your business build AI-powered workflows and automation with confidence. We help you increase productivity, reduce manual work, and deploy AI responsibly without compromising security or compliance.

IT Support

Ensure your business operations run smoothly with our proactive IT support. We provide 24/7 monitoring, issue resolution, and ongoing maintenance to keep your systems operational and secure. Our expert team is always ready to address your IT challenges, minimizing downtime and enhancing productivity.

IT Strategy

Align your technology with your business goals through our IT strategy services. Our vCIO consulting and tailored roadmaps help you plan and implement IT initiatives that support growth, reduce costs, and improve efficiency. We ensure your IT investments deliver maximum value.

Cybersecurity

Protect your business from evolving threats with our advanced cybersecurity solutions. From dark web monitoring to managed detection and response, we provide multi-layered defense strategies that secure your data, systems, and network. Stay compliant and safeguard your reputation with Framework IT.

IT Project Management Services

Ensure the success of your IT initiatives with our project management expertise. From infrastructure upgrades to software implementation, we deliver projects on time, within budget, and aligned with your business objectives. Let us handle the complexities of your IT projects while you focus on growth.

Cloud Services

Leverage the power of the cloud to improve flexibility, scalability, and collaboration. Our cloud solutions include migration, optimization, and ongoing management to ensure your business benefits from secure and efficient cloud infrastructure. Whether hybrid or fully cloud-based, we've got you covered.

Business Communication Solutions

Enhance team collaboration and customer interactions with our business communication solutions. From VoIP systems to unified communication platforms, we provide the tools your business needs to stay connected, productive, and efficient across all communication channels.

Business Internet Services

Optimize your connectivity with reliable, high-speed business internet solutions. We ensure your business stays connected with tailored plans designed for maximum performance and minimal downtime, supporting everything from daily operations to data-intensive applications.

What Our Clients Are Saying

★★★★★

They are always super quick to get back to you (usually less than an hour) while other jobs I've worked have taken literal days if not weeks. Everyone is always super nice super helpful. Every issue I've had has been resolved quickly and correctly. The last 2 times Ethan and Zander helped me out...

Tyler Kraus

Club Colors Buyer, LLC

The biggest benefit of your cloud phone system platform is the seamless communication and efficiency it provides, especially for remote team members who can stay connected and productive through user-friendly desktop and mobile apps. Your hands-on guidance, ethical billing practices, and real-time support distinguish you from other companies, ensuring we feel supported and confident. For anyone considering your services, I would highlight your unmatched combination of reliability, ethics, and support, which simplifies communication and offers invaluable peace of mind.

Shavon Truman

McCready Law Office

Framework IT is the most reliable MSP I have worked with in my 25 years in Office Management. Every staff member I encounter is professional and knowledgeable, and interactions in general are consistently positive. They have completely elevated the level of service we receive, and they are the...

Chelsea Woodmansee

IL Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism

We've been working with Framework for over 4 years now and their services and support are top notch. Our VCIO Arthur has been instrumental in enhancing our IT and security solutions and a big shout out to the entire support team including Matt and Irfaan for their incredible support in finding...

April Lickovitch

Lotus Marketing

I am very grateful for our partnership with Framework and appreciate the team so much! My most recent interaction was with Matt who is always so friendly as well as knowledgeable and efficient with any requests I send their way.

Kelly Yacono

NewRoot Learning Institute

"As a former owner of an MSP, I understand how challenging it can be to price IT services effectively. When I discovered Framework IT, I was blown away by their unique model—it perfectly captures what I tried to achieve for years in my own business. Their approach is transparent, fair, and tailored to fit the needs of businesses of all sizes, making it easy to budget. But what truly sets Framework IT apart is their commitment to partnership. They don't just offer support; they genuinely partner with you to ensure your success and back that up with their business model. Their team is incredibly responsive, knowledgeable, and always willing to go the extra mile to resolve any issues quickly. If you're in the market for an IT provider that combines innovative pricing with top-notch service, look no further than Framework IT."

Mark Kennedy

"Framework IT provides so much more than network support for our organization. We value the insightful advise and long term planning strategies offered to us. Framework IT scales technology solutions to our needs at a budget we can support. Year after year, we receive dependable service from...

Oak Leyden

What does managed IT for RIAs and wealth management firms include?

Managed IT for advisory firms bundles day-to-day support, cybersecurity, and technology strategy into one ongoing service. A provider runs the help desk, monitors and maintains systems, manages security controls, coordinates software and custodial vendors, handles user onboarding and offboarding, and plans the technology roadmap. The aim is reliable systems that keep advisors serving clients instead of troubleshooting portfolio, planning, CRM, and client-portal tools.

Why do RIAs and wealth management firms need IT support built for their industry instead of a generalist provider?

Advisory firms run on interconnected, regulated systems: portfolio management, financial planning, CRM, custodial integrations, and client portals, all under SEC and FINRA scrutiny. A generalist can keep the lights on but often misses how these platforms connect and what examiners expect. A provider with real wealth-management experience understands custodial workflows, compliance documentation, and the sensitivity of client financial data, so problems get solved in context. Framework IT supports RIAs and wealth management firms, and key staff, including the assigned virtual CIO (vCIO), bring direct experience in this space.

What cybersecurity requirements do RIAs face under the SEC's amended Regulation S-P and FINRA?

Registered investment advisors fall under SEC oversight, and cybersecurity is now a top examination priority. The SEC's amended Regulation S-P requires written cybersecurity policies, an incident response process with breach notification, and documented vendor accountability. Firms tied to FINRA face parallel expectations. Technology providers supply the controls, documentation, and reporting that support these obligations, but a firm's compliance officer or counsel owns regulatory interpretation.

How do wealth management firms protect client data from phishing, ransomware, and business email compromise?

Financial services firms are prime targets, so protection has to be layered. Advanced email filtering blocks phishing, spoofing, and business email compromise before messages reach inboxes. Multi-factor authentication (MFA) stops access even when credentials leak. Endpoint detection and response catches ransomware on devices, a security operations center watches for suspicious logins and data movement, and awareness training helps staff spot attacks. If one layer fails, others contain the threat.

How can a financial advisory firm meet cyber liability insurance requirements and avoid claim denials?

Insurers now require specific controls before they write or renew a policy: multi-factor authentication, endpoint detection and response, tested backups, security awareness training, and written security policies with proof employees acknowledged them. Claims get denied when those controls are missing or undocumented. The practical work is closing gaps, keeping evidence current, and matching the environment to the questionnaire, so a firm can both qualify and actually collect if it files.

Should a small RIA outsource IT or build an in-house team?

For most small and midsize advisory firms, outsourcing wins on cost and coverage. A single in-house hire is expensive, hard to recruit, and cannot cover help desk, security, strategy, and compliance support alone or after hours. An outsourced provider brings a full team, around-the-clock monitoring, and specialized skills for a predictable monthly fee. Firms with existing IT staff often use a co-managed model that adds capacity without replacing the internal person. Framework IT works both ways, serving as a firm's complete IT department or as an extension of its existing IT staff.

How do advisory firms get their portfolio management, CRM, financial planning, and custodial platforms to work together?

No advisory firm has fully solved integration, and staff often re-key data between disconnected systems. The fix starts with an assessment of the current stack to find redundancies and gaps, then a roadmap that favors platforms with strong interoperability and clear APIs. A provider coordinates with software and custodial vendors, manages the infrastructure that connects systems, and advises when a tool should be replaced, cutting manual entry and freeing advisors for client work.

What does business continuity and disaster recovery look like for a wealth management firm?

Business continuity means the firm keeps operating through ransomware, hardware failure, or an outage. The foundation is enterprise-grade backup with immutable copies ransomware cannot alter, covering servers, cloud platforms, and endpoints. Recovery plans define how fast systems come back, backups are tested regularly rather than assumed, and virtualization can stand up a temporary server while hardware is repaired. For advisory firms, retention also has to satisfy recordkeeping rules.

How should a wealth management firm adopt AI without creating compliance or client-data risk?

Start with governance, then enable. Set an acceptable-use policy that defines what client and regulated data can go into which tools, favor enterprise AI platforms that don't train on or retain your data, and control access by role. Begin with low-risk, high-value use cases, document the review process for compliance, and train staff before rolling wider. That sequence captures productivity gains while protecting client PII and fiduciary obligations. Framework IT offers a managed AI adoption service for financial services firms, pairing a dedicated AI advisor with structured implementation, employee training, and ongoing optimization.

What should an RIA look for when choosing an IT provider or MSP?

Look for industry fit first: a provider that already supports advisory firms understands custodial integrations, SEC and FINRA expectations, and client-data sensitivity. Then check the fundamentals: fast, responsive support with a consistent team, a proactive security stack included rather than sold piecemeal, strategic guidance from a virtual CIO (vCIO), and transparent, predictable pricing. Ask how they document your environment, support compliance, and whether they offer references from similar firms. Framework IT provides these as part of its managed IT services for RIAs and wealth management firms.

How do I choose an IT provider for an RIA or wealth management firm in Chicago?

Chicago has many IT providers, so filter on fit rather than proximity. Prioritize a firm with real wealth-management experience, an included security stack, virtual CIO (vCIO) strategy, and responsive support, and confirm they can dispatch on-site help when remote fixes fall short. Local presence helps for hands-on work and in-person reviews, but the deciding factors are industry knowledge, security depth, and references from comparable advisory firms. Framework IT is a Chicago-based provider serving RIAs and wealth management firms across the area, with its own engineers for on-site support in Chicagoland.

How much does managed IT cost for a wealth management firm in the Chicago area?

Location doesn't set the price. Managed IT for advisory firms is typically billed as a flat monthly fee, most often per user, rather than hourly or per ticket, which makes budgeting predictable. What drives cost is the number of users, the security and compliance controls required, and how closely the environment follows IT best practices. Being in the Chicago metro doesn't raise the rate on its own; the service scope does.

Get in Touch

Let Framework IT be your trusted partner in managing the complexities of IT for RIAs and wealth management in Chicago. Contact us today to learn more about how our proactive solutions can safeguard your business.

Phone: (312) 564-5446
Email: info@frameworkit.com
Address: 700 N Sacramento Blvd., Suite 101, Chicago, IL 60612

Get In Touch