How financial advisors can create proposals using custody data and performance management system

TL;DR: Custody and portfolio systems like Schwab, Orion, or Black Diamond are designed for account management and performance tracking, not for creating client proposals. Consultants using these systems often spend hours exporting, reformatting data, and manually creating visuals. Koyfin bridges this gap by connecting directly to portfolio data and performance management system through deep portfolio analysis, performance measurement, and professional proposal generation.

Why advisors choose Koyfin:

• Works across multiple custodians and PMS systems (Schwab, Altruist, TradePMR, Interactive Brokers, Fidelity, Orion, Black Diamond, Addepar)
• Combines research analytics, visual reporting, and proposal creation in one connected workflow
• Allows for side-by-side portfolio comparisons, clear analysis of fees and risks, and professional client deliverables
• It saves hours of manual work and helps advisors deliver a clearer, more professional client experience

to get to know: In the 2025 Kitces AdvisorTech study, financial advisors rated Koyfin 9/10 for satisfaction and value, ranking it as the highest-rated platform in the investment research and analysis category ahead of YCharts, Kwanti, FactSet, Morningstar, and Bloomberg Terminal.
source: The Kitces Report – The Technology Independent Financial Advisors Actually Use and Love – Volume 1 2025 (1)

---

introduction
Even when advisors already use custodians or portfolio management systems like Schwab, Orion, or Black Diamond, proposal creation often remains a manual and fragmented process.
These systems are designed for trade execution and performance reporting, not for visual analysis or off-the-shelf presentations to clients.

Here’s where most advisors face friction:

1. Hashed data: Custody portals display positions and balances but rarely consolidate households, external accounts or benchmarks in one place.
2. Limited analysis: PMS tools like Orion or Black Diamond are optimized for performance reporting, not generating proposals or comparing fees.
3. Onerous exports: Creating a client-ready presentation still means exporting to Excel or PowerPoint and manually reformatting the diagrams.
4. No immediate comparisons: Custodians show what a client owns, but not how it compares to a suggested allocation or model portfolio.
5. Poor eye contact: Internal reports are technical. They are not designed for clients to quickly understand diversification, exposure or cost differences.

Modern presentation platforms solve this problem by connecting directly to custodians and performance management systems. It allows advisors to import real account data, analyze performance and risk, and create professional proposals with clear images and consistent branding.

---

Why financial advisors need a modern presentation platform

Our modern analytics and suggestions platform bridges the gap between raw account data and customer-ready presentations.
Key Benefits:

1. Time efficiency: Exporting, cleaning, and formatting data from multiple systems can take hours. The modern analytics and proposals platform connects directly to custodians or wallet systems, importing account data and reducing manual work.
2. Data accuracy: Direct imports ensure that collectibles, values, and fees reflect the customer’s actual situations. Accurate data builds trust during portfolio review and enhances confidence in proposal meetings.
3. Clear display: Customers understand visuals better than spreadsheets. A proposal that clearly explains allocation, exposure, and fees helps simplify complex information and makes recommendations easier to understand and implement.

---

Tools that support Custodian and PMS integrations to create proposals: Why Koyfin stands out

Advisors can pull client data in many ways, but not all methods provide the same speed, accuracy, or scalability.

1. Handmade exports and imports

Exporting data in CSV or PDF format from custodians and uploading it back into Excel works for a few accounts, but is slow and prone to inconsistency. Each export requires manual formatting and verification.

2. Old wallet platforms

Platforms like Morningstar Office or Envestnet integrate with trustees but often require complex setup, ongoing reconciliation, and separate reporting tools. It’s powerful for enterprise-level management but too heavy for consultants focused on creating quick visual proposals.

3. Integrated Analytics Platforms (Koyfin)

Koyfin combines direct trustee communications with a PMS, portfolio analysis, and proposal generation. Once connected, advisors can import client account data, analyze holdings, compare portfolios, and export branded reports in one place.

Why Koyfin is the best choice for proposals using custodian data and PMS

1. Connect with custodians and wallet systems

Koyfin connect with Schwab, Altruist, TradePMR, Interactive Brokers, Fidelity, Orion, Black Diamond, or Addepar. Once connected, advisors can import client holdings, balances, and account details directly, without having to export a CSV file or re-enter data.

2. Organize customers clearly

Koyfin allows advisors to organize client accounts using a home → wallet → account structure. Advisors can aggregate multiple accounts within a single household to view consolidated holdings, performance and allocations in a single view.

3. Portfolio analysis

Review allocations by sector, instrument type, asset class and geography. Assess portfolio risk through measures of volatility, beta, drawdown, benchmark performance against custom benchmarks, relevant indexes, or ETFs.

4. Construct and compare proposals

Create a suggested allocation using Koyfin’s model portfolios, and instantly see the difference in fees, risk and diversification.

5. Create branded, client-ready proposals

Advisors can create polished proposals that clearly articulate changes in allocation, exposure and risk. Each proposal can include company branding, team bios, and custom pages with photos, diagrams, or explanations of the company’s approach.

6. Research and analysis in the same platform

Koyfin combines market research, security analysis, and portfolio analytics in one workspace. Advisors can evaluate benchmark holdings and portfolios and apply those insights directly into their proposals.

7. Industry recognition

Koyfin has been independently recognized for its research and analytical capabilities.

Koyfin ranked first in the Financial Analytics and Portfolio Management categories on G2 in the Winter 2026 report. The platform received a rating of 4.8 out of 5, based on strong satisfaction scores from verified users.

In the 2025 Kitces AdvisorTech study, financial advisors rated Koyfin 9/10 for satisfaction and value, ranking it as the highest-rated platform in the investment research and analysis category ahead of YCharts, Kwanti, FactSet, Morningstar, and Bloomberg Terminal.

source: The Kitces Report – The Technology Independent Financial Advisors Actually Use and Love – Volume 1 2025 (1)

---

Example workflow: Using Koyfin to build a client proposal

1. Link your custodian account or PMS

Log in to Koyfin and go to Profile → Integrations. Select Guardian or PMS and click Connect.

2. Import customer accounts

Go to Client Wallets → + Add New → Wallet. Choose Connected Custodian or PMS and select the customer accounts to import. Koyfin displays all accounts, allowing you to choose what to include.

3. Family planning

Group related accounts using Family → Wallet → Account structure for a consolidated view of all client assets.

4. Analysis of current portfolio

With the wallet loaded, Koyfin gives you instant visibility into:

• distribution: Review asset class, instrument type, sector, country and bond credit quality.
• risk: Check volatility, beta, concentration and drawdown chart.
• Performance versus standard: Koyfin models portfolio performance against specific benchmarks over time, showing how different strategies can impact long-term returns.

Building the proposed portfolio

Create your recommended customization with Koyfin Model portfolios. Add an ETF or mutual fund if helpful, and compare your proposed allocations to your current allocations.

Create the proposal

Click Create a report in Client portfolios. Koyfin opens up the suggestion builder with customizable sections:

• Cover page: Company name, logo, consultant, client, date.
• Our company: Team introduction, credentials, values, and optional images.
• Current portfolio analysis: Customization, graphics and performance with commentary.
• Side by side comparison: Current allocation versus proposed allocation, fees and performance.
• Fee transparency: Breakdown of current fees versus proposed fees.
• Disclosures: Required regulatory language and risk statements.

Thank you

Export the proposal as a PDF and share it with your prospect or client.

---

Integrations vs. PDF Uploads: When to Use Each

Use guardian integrations when:

• You mainly work with one or a few guardians
• You need to update the data frequently
• You manage multi-account households

Use PDF uploads when:

• The client holds accounts with custodians with whom he does not integrate
• The customer prefers not to grant access to the system
• You are preparing a one-time proposal or analysis

Hybrid approach: Many advisors use both. Consolidate accounts from your primary custodians and use PDF uploads for smaller or specialized accounts. Koyfin supports both workflows seamlessly within a single platform.