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

1. How do you handle the SEC's new cybersecurity requirements under Regulation S-P, and can you help us prepare for examination?

Framework IT includes a comprehensive cybersecurity stack with every managed services agreement that addresses the core requirements of the SEC's amended Regulation S-P: written cybersecurity policies, incident response planning, and vendor accountability. Your dedicated vCIO develops and maintains documented security policies with employee attestation workflows, works with your compliance officer to implement technology controls aligned with SEC and FINRA rules, provides audit-ready documentation and reporting, and assists with annual security risk assessments and cybersecurity questionnaires. While we are not a compliance consulting firm and do not provide legal or regulatory advice, we deliver the technology controls and documentation your compliance team needs to demonstrate a strong cybersecurity posture during an examination.

2. Our tech stack has five or more platforms that do not integrate well. How do you address the integration problem?

Integration challenges are one of the most common pain points in the advisory industry, and no firm has fully solved them. Framework IT's vCIO evaluates your current tech stack during onboarding, identifies redundancies and integration gaps, and builds a technology roadmap that prioritizes consolidation and tools with strong API compatibility. We coordinate with your software vendors, manage the infrastructure layer that connects your systems, and advise on platform selection when changes are warranted. The goal is to reduce manual data re-entry, eliminate disconnected workflows, and build an environment where your platforms communicate reliably, freeing your advisors to focus on clients rather than troubleshooting technology.

3. We do not have internal IT staff. Can you truly function as our entire IT department?

Yes. Approximately 70 percent of our clients have no internal IT professionals. Our managed services plan is designed to replace a traditional in-house IT team, covering daily help desk support, proactive monitoring, strategic planning, cybersecurity, infrastructure management, vendor coordination, user onboarding and offboarding, backup monitoring, and documentation. For the infrastructure, security, and support domains, approximately 95 percent of day-to-day IT execution is handled by Framework IT, with your involvement limited primarily to business approvals, communicating business changes like new hires or departures, and participating in Strategic Business Reviews at least twice per year.

4. How do you protect client data against phishing, ransomware, and business email compromise attacks that specifically target financial services firms?

We deploy a layered cybersecurity defense that addresses threats at every stage of an attack. Advanced email security through Mimecast blocks phishing, spoofing, and malware before it reaches the inbox. Security awareness training through KnowBe4 teaches your staff to recognize and report suspicious messages. Multi-Factor Authentication prevents account access even if credentials are compromised. Our 24/7 Security Operations Center monitors for suspicious login activity, unauthorized email forwarding, and data exfiltration attempts, and isolates threats within minutes. Endpoint Detection and Response uses AI-powered behavioral analysis to stop ransomware and malware on devices. Dark web monitoring alerts us if credentials associated with your firm appear on the dark web. This layered approach means that if one defense is bypassed, others are in place to contain the threat before damage occurs.

5. How do you help us meet cyber liability insurance requirements and avoid claim denials?

Our cybersecurity stack meets over 97 percent of cyber liability insurance requirements, and our clients typically see 20 to 40 percent lower premiums. Beyond premium savings, we focus on ensuring you can actually collect when you file a claim. Your vCIO develops written security policies with employee attestation, maintains continuous documentation of all security controls, and proactively addresses the three most common claim denial scenarios: outdated operating systems, missing security policies without documented employee acknowledgment, and inadequate or untested backups. We review your cyber insurance policy or application questionnaire, identify gaps, provide evidence of compliance, and serve as your advocate during the application and renewal process. When an incident does occur, our detailed forensic logs, timestamped evidence, and incident reports enable claims to be processed in weeks rather than months.

6. We are considering an acquisition or merger. How does your service support M&A readiness?

Acquirers and investors assign higher valuations to firms with clean data, scalable operations, and modern IT infrastructure. Framework IT's vCIO supports M&A readiness by maintaining comprehensive documentation of your technology environment, ensuring your cybersecurity posture meets due diligence scrutiny, and building infrastructure that can be quickly assessed, integrated, or separated during transactions. If you are the acquirer, we can perform technology assessments of target firms, identify integration challenges and costs, and plan the technology consolidation. Our experience supporting organizations with multiple locations, including deployments across dozens of facilities, gives us the operational capability to execute post-merger technology integration efficiently.

7. How do you ensure business continuity if our systems go down due to a ransomware attack or hardware failure?

Framework IT uses Axcient's enterprise-grade backup and disaster recovery platform to protect servers, Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, and endpoint devices. Recovery Point Objectives can be as low as 15 minutes, and Recovery Time Objectives are under one hour in ideal conditions. Axcient's Virtual Office capability can spin up a virtualized server in the cloud within minutes, allowing your firm to continue operations while hardware is replaced or repaired. All backups are protected by AirGap immutable technology, which prevents ransomware from encrypting or deleting your recovery points. Automated backup testing through AutoVerify runs daily or weekly, confirming that your backups will work when you need them. Your Proactive Infrastructure Engineer monitors backup health daily, and your vCIO plans for long-term retention and compliance needs during Strategic Business Reviews.

8. Our advisors work from multiple locations and expect mobile access. How do you support a distributed workforce?

Framework IT has extensive experience supporting organizations with distributed teams and multiple office locations, including deployments across 70 facilities for a single client. We create standardized technology blueprints for your locations covering network infrastructure, cloud platforms, security baselines, and device standards, then customize for site-specific needs. For Chicagoland offices, we dispatch our own full-time engineers. For offices outside Chicago, we coordinate with a national network of qualified field technicians directed by our senior engineers. Cloud-based platforms, secure remote access, and centralized monitoring through our RMM and network monitoring tools ensure that your advisors receive the same level of support and security whether they are in the office, at home, or on the road.

9. How do you handle onboarding and offboarding advisors securely and efficiently?

We follow a structured process for both. For onboarding, we recommend 10 business days' notice with existing equipment or 2 weeks if new hardware needs to be procured, though we routinely accommodate shorter timelines. Devices are pre-configured with all necessary software, security tools, and settings before the new hire's start date. For offboarding, we disable accounts, revoke access across all managed platforms, back up or transfer data as directed, reclaim software licenses, and securely wipe returned devices. Standardized checklists are built into every onboarding and offboarding ticket, and AI agents audit engineer notes against those checklists to flag any missed steps. Automation through Rewst ensures consistent execution of Standard Operating Procedures, reducing manual effort and human error. Every action is logged to individual accounts for a complete audit trail.

10. What does your pricing look like, and how do we budget for managed IT services?

Framework IT uses a unique pricing model called the Business Optimization Framework. Your monthly price is based on your Level of Optimization, which reflects how closely your technology environment aligns with proven IT best practices. As you align more closely through a phased roadmap managed by your vCIO, your monthly pricing decreases. This creates a genuine incentive alignment: improving your environment reduces your cost, and supporting a well-optimized environment is more efficient for us. Your vCIO provides annual technology budget forecasts, and our No Surprise Billing guarantee ensures you never pay for work that was not pre-approved by your designated decision-maker. Our comprehensive cybersecurity stack is included at no additional charge, and clients typically see 20 to 40 percent lower cyber insurance premiums, which often offsets a significant portion of the managed services fee.

Get in Touch

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

Phone: (312) 564-5446
Email: [email protected]
Address: 700 N Sacramento Blvd., Suite 101, Chicago, IL 60612

Get In Touch