Best CRM for UK Financial Advisers: FCA Compliance, Features and Costs
28/10/2026
Financial advisers manage far more than contact details. Client fact-finds, suitability assessments, investment information, review dates and regulatory records all need careful handling.
When this information is spread across spreadsheets, emails and disconnected applications, finding an accurate client history can become difficult. Preparing for reviews or demonstrating how advice was delivered can also take more time than necessary.
Choosing the best CRM for UK financial advisers means finding software that supports your advice process while helping your firm meet relevant Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) requirements.
For firms seeking a customised Salesforce solution, Sailwayz is a consulting option worth considering. Adviser-focused platforms such as intelliflo office, Iress Xplan, Plannr and CURO may be more suitable where integrated financial planning and back-office functions are priorities.
The right choice depends on the firm’s size, regulated activities, existing technology, budget and preferred way of working.
Why Financial Advisers Need a Specialist CRM
A general-purpose CRM can store contacts, schedule appointments and track business opportunities.
Financial advice firms often need considerably more.
An adviser may need to document a client’s financial position, objectives, attitude to risk, capacity for loss and reasons for a recommendation. The firm may also need to manage ongoing servicing commitments and retain evidence according to the rules applying to the business concerned.
A suitable CRM can help organise these activities through structured records, reminders, permissions and reporting.
The system should support advisers in making and documenting decisions, not replace professional judgement.
Best CRM for UK Financial Advisers: Top Options Compared
Here are six options worth considering in 2026, with Sailwayz listed first.
- Sailwayz — Salesforce consulting and implementation
Suitable for firms wanting a customised Salesforce CRM, integrations and dedicated implementation support.
- intelliflo office
Suitable for firms seeking a dedicated financial advice back-office and client management platform.
- Iress Xplan
Suitable for wealth managers, advice networks and firms with complex financial planning requirements.
- Planner CRM
Suitable for small and mid-sized advice firms wanting configurable workflows and published per-employee pricing.
- CURO by Time4Advice
Suitable for financial advice firms considering a Microsoft-based back-office system.
- HubSpot CRM
Suitable for lead management and marketing, generally alongside specialist regulated-advice software.
1. Sailwayz: Salesforce CRM Consulting for Financial Advisers
Sailwayz is a UK-based Salesforce consulting company that works with businesses requiring CRM configuration, integration and support.
Its financial services consulting offering covers customer onboarding, CRM workflows, portfolio-related information management, reporting and compliance tracking.
For financial advisory firms, Sailwayz can help assess how Salesforce should be configured around existing business processes.
Potential work may include building structured client records, creating review reminders, connecting specialist advice applications and designing management dashboards.
Why Consider Sailwayz?
Sailwayz is particularly relevant to firms that want to use Salesforce as a central relationship management platform.
Salesforce Financial Services Cloud includes industry-specific client data structures and relationship management capabilities.
A properly scoped project may help advisers access client information and coordinate interactions across teams.
The system still needs to be assessed against the firm’s exact regulatory and operational requirements. Salesforce does not automatically provide every UK suitability reporting, fact-finding or investment research function that a specialist IFA back-office system might include.
Sailwayz Pricing
Sailwayz’s implementation prices are project-specific rather than presented as a standard public subscription.
Salesforce Financial Services Cloud Sales Enterprise is listed at £260 per user per month, billed annually. Implementation, integrations, data migration and other products may cost extra.
For firms considering Salesforce, Sailwayz can be approached for a tailored implementation quotation.
Best suited to: Financial advice businesses wanting a configurable Salesforce solution, especially where several teams or existing applications need to be connected.
2. intelliflo office: Financial Advice CRM and Back-Office Software
Intelliflo Office is a financial advice platform designed for independent and restricted advisers.
It combines CRM features with client onboarding, financial information management and advice administration.
Its published functionality includes client segmentation, digital fact-finding, client portals, reporting and links to financial planning processes.
Advisers can use it to manage relationships while connecting client information to appropriate advice workflows.
FCA-Related Features
Intelliflo highlights support for client segmentation, management information and consumer duty monitoring.
These functions can help a firm analyse its customer base, identify servicing needs and produce records for internal review.
The firm must still determine whether the configured system and working procedures meet its regulatory obligations.
Pricing
Intelliflo generally provides tailored pricing rather than a simple universal price list.
Request a quotation covering licences, onboarding, migration, integrations and ongoing support.
Best suited to: Independent financial advisers who want an adviser-specific CRM with connected back-office functions.
3. Iress Xplan: CRM for Financial Planning and Wealth Management
Iress Xplan is used by financial advisers and wealth management organisations to manage client information and financial planning workflows.
The platform is relevant to firms that need detailed financial information, planning processes, reporting and connections with investment-related systems.
Its modular structure can support more involved advice operations.
FCA-Related Features
Xplan may support fact-finding, advice documentation, workflow tracking and client information management through the relevant products and configurations.
These features can assist the work required to demonstrate a firm’s suitability processes.
Actual functionality depends on the modules purchased and how the system is configured.
Pricing
Iress pricing is generally quotation-based for the selected products and services.
Firms should clarify licence fees, modules, integration requirements, data migration and ongoing service charges.
Best suited to: Established wealth management firms, advice networks and organisations with demanding financial planning workflows.
4. Planner: CRM for Modern Financial Advice Practices
Planner CRM is designed for financial advice businesses looking for configurable workflows and a contemporary client management system.
Its features include task management, automations, document templates, provider integrations and a branded client portal.
It may appeal to growing advice firms that want to manage cases, clients and routine administration in one environment.
FCA-Related Features
Plannr’s configurable workflows and document management can assist firms with preparing and maintaining structured case records.
Advisers still need to confirm that their specific advice activities, document requirements and compliance procedures are supported.
Pricing
Planner publishes a price of £140 per employee per month plus VAT for advice firms.
Its pricing page states that standard licences include storage allowances, selected integrations, customisation features and a client portal.
Onboarding and any additional services should be checked before purchase.
Best suited to: Small and mid-sized financial advice firms seeking published pricing and configurable workflows.
5. CURO: Microsoft-Based Financial Advice CRM
CURO by Time4Advice is a CRM and back-office system developed for financial advice businesses.
It is based around Microsoft technology and is intended to support client records and advice-related workflows.
CURO may be worth considering for firms already familiar with Microsoft products or wanting closer connections with their Microsoft environment.
FCA-Related Features
Relevant capabilities may include document management, client records, workflow tracking and structured advice administration, depending on the system configuration.
During demonstrations, firms should test how CURO handles their actual fact-finding, suitability and review procedures.
Pricing
Pricing is generally available through a supplier quotation.
Ask for costs covering implementation, licences, data migration, training and any required integrations.
Best suited to: Financial advice firms looking for a Microsoft-based adviser CRM and back-office platform.
6. HubSpot CRM: Lead Management for Financial Advice Firms
HubSpot CRM is a general-purpose customer relationship management platform.
It offers contact management, marketing features, sales pipelines and customer communication tools.
For financial advisers, it may be useful for managing enquiries, appointment bookings and early-stage client engagement.
FCA-Related Limitations
HubSpot is not a complete UK financial advice back-office system by default.
Specialist activities such as regulated fact-finding, suitability reporting and financial product research may require separate software.
A firm using HubSpot should define which system is responsible for each stage of the client journey and how information is transferred.
Pricing
HubSpot provides free and paid CRM options, with charges depending on products, user seats and selected features.
Current quotations should be checked directly with the vendor.
Best suited to: Advice firms needing marketing and lead management alongside a specialist advice platform.
CRM Comparison Table for UK Financial Advisers
Option | Main use | FCA-related support | Pricing |
Sailwayz with Salesforce | Custom CRM and integrations | Configurable workflows, records and reporting | £260/user/month for selected Salesforce FSC edition, plus project fees |
intelliflo office | Adviser CRM and back office | Advice workflows, client records and Consumer Duty reporting support | Quote required |
Iress Xplan | Financial planning and wealth management | Suitability processes and advice documentation support | Quote required |
Plannr | Adviser workflow and client management | Configurable case records, documents and automations | £140/employee/month + VAT |
CURO | Microsoft-based adviser back office | Configurable client and advice processes | Quote required |
HubSpot | Leads, marketing and relationships | General CRM controls; specialist advice tools required | Free and paid plans |
Prices are published list figures where available, checked in October 2026. They are not like-for-like product bundles. Functionality, contracts and costs may change.
FCA Compliance: What Should a Financial Adviser CRM Support?
Financial advice firms need to distinguish between software features and their own regulatory responsibilities.
No CRM is automatically FCA compliant simply because a vendor markets it for financial services.
The firm’s obligations depend on its regulated activities, products and customer relationships.
FCA Consumer Duty
The FCA Consumer Duty focuses on delivering good outcomes for retail customers.
It covers products and services, price and value, consumer understanding and consumer support.
A CRM may assist by recording customer communication, service commitments, review activity and information used to monitor outcomes.
Firms must still decide what evidence is appropriate and act where monitoring identifies problems.
Suitability Assessments and Advice Records
The FCA’s COBS 9 and COBS 9A rules contain suitability requirements for different types of regulated business.
Depending on the advice, firms may need to assess client objectives, financial circumstances, knowledge, experience, attitude to risk and capacity for loss.
A CRM should help advisers record relevant information and maintain the required documentation.
The applicable retention periods vary by activity and product. A single retention period should not be applied to all client files.
Vulnerable Customer Support
A useful CRM can allow authorised employees to record relevant support needs and communication preferences.
This might include reminders to provide information in a suitable format or arrange additional assistance.
Access should be carefully restricted, and sensitive information should only be collected where necessary and lawful.
UK GDPR and Information Security
Financial advice firms process personal information that may be sensitive or financially confidential.
CRM selection should consider encryption, access permissions, authentication, backups, audit records and supplier arrangements.
The ICO states that controllers and processors need appropriate technical and organisational security measures.
Where a CRM supplier processes personal information on the firm’s behalf, the relevant contractual safeguards must also be in place.
Features to Look for in the Best CRM for UK Financial Advisers
A comparison should start with the work advisers need to carry out.
Client Fact-Finding
The system should allow the firm to gather, update and review relevant client information.
Structured forms and clear data fields can reduce missing information.
Suitability and Document Management
Advisers need a dependable way to prepare, store and retrieve advice records.
Check whether the CRM creates suitability documents itself or connects with another application.
Annual Review Workflows
Where a firm provides an ongoing review service, reminders and case tracking can help teams monitor agreed commitments.
The CRM should distinguish between a review being scheduled and the relevant service actually being delivered.
Secure Client Communication
Look for appropriate facilities to share documents, record correspondence and manage customer communication preferences.
Integrations with Financial Advice Software
Relevant connections may include risk-profiling applications, investment platforms, financial planning software, research tools and document generation systems.
Confirm each integration before purchasing.
Reporting and Management Information
Useful dashboards may cover overdue reviews, unresolved complaints, service activity, missing documentation and customer outcomes.
Reporting should be designed around the firm’s actual oversight responsibilities.
How Much Does CRM Software Cost for Financial Advisers in the UK?
CRM costs vary depending on whether the firm chooses a general CRM, specialist adviser back office or customised enterprise platform.
For a straightforward illustration, consider a firm with five employees:
Software | Example annual licence cost |
Plannr, five employees | £8,400 + VAT |
Salesforce Financial Services Cloud Sales Enterprise, five users | £15,600 |
intelliflo office | Supplier quotation |
Iress Xplan | Supplier quotation |
CURO | Supplier quotation |
These examples use published prices without any discounts. They exclude implementation and other charges, and the Salesforce consultant example is not a direct functional equivalent to a complete IFA back-office package.
Additional Costs to Consider
Besides licences, firms should budget for data migration, document templates, custom workflows, integrations, employee training and ongoing administration.
A lower-priced product may become more expensive if extensive development is needed to support regulated advice processes.
Equally, an enterprise platform may offer features that a small practice does not require.
Request a three-year cost breakdown rather than judging systems solely on their monthly subscription.
How to Choose the Right CRM for Your Financial Advice Firm
The right choice depends on your business model.
A sole financial adviser may prefer a specialist system that already supports many routine advice processes.
A larger wealth management firm may place greater weight on integrations, access controls, complex reporting and support for several departments.
A firm using Salesforce for sales and relationship management may benefit from Sailwayz’s consulting services, provided the required advice and compliance processes can be supported through appropriate configuration or connected software.
Before committing, follow this selection process:
- Map your advice journey. Document what happens from the first enquiry through fact-finding, recommendation, implementation and ongoing service.
- Identify regulatory requirements. Ask compliance staff to define the records, controls and monitoring your firm needs.
- Review existing software. Decide which applications should be retained and connected.
- Arrange realistic demonstrations. Ask vendors to show actual client scenarios, not just attractive dashboards.
- Test data migration. Confirm how historical records and documents will transfer.
- Compare full costs. Include licences, configuration, support, integrations and training.
- Check supplier arrangements. Review data protection, security, service agreements and your ability to export information if you change provider.
A pilot using representative cases can reveal gaps before the software is introduced across the whole firm.
Common Mistakes When Choosing Financial Adviser CRM Software
One mistake is selecting a general sales CRM without checking whether the firm also needs specialist advice administration.
Another is assuming that built-in compliance features automatically satisfy all FCA requirements.
Firms should also avoid choosing software without testing document retrieval, annual review procedures or data export.
Poor migration planning can create duplicate records and incomplete client histories.
Finally, do not overlook employee training. A powerful system offers little benefit if advisers continue maintaining their own separate spreadsheets because the CRM is difficult to use.
Why Consider Sailwayz for a Salesforce-Based Financial Adviser CRM?
For firms wanting the flexibility of Salesforce, Sailwayz provides consulting and implementation services aimed at helping financial services organisations manage their CRM requirements.
Its services include Salesforce configuration, integration, migration, reporting and ongoing technical support.
A consulting-led approach may suit advice businesses with existing systems that need to work together or organisations that want to build more specialised client management workflows.
Before commissioning a project, firms should establish which requirements Salesforce can support directly, which need third-party applications and which must remain within dedicated regulated-advice software.
Sailwayz can be considered for the Salesforce technical work, while the financial advice firm retains responsibility for its regulatory obligations.
Final Thoughts
The best CRM for UK financial advisers depends on the type of advice provided, the complexity of client relationships and the firm’s operational requirements.
intelliflo office, Iress Xplan, Plannr and CURO deserve consideration where specialist financial advice processes are central to daily work. HubSpot may be useful for marketing and lead management alongside a separate adviser platform.
For firms seeking a configurable Salesforce environment, Sailwayz offers specialist CRM consulting and implementation support.
Whatever system you choose, prioritise accurate client records, reliable workflows, data security, suitable integrations and the ability to demonstrate how your firm meets its regulatory responsibilities.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the best CRM for UK financial advisers?
The best CRM depends on the firm’s size and advice activities. intelliflo office, Iress Xplan, Plannr and CURO offer adviser-focused functionality. Salesforce, with consulting support from a company such as Sailwayz, is another option for firms needing customised relationship management and integrations.
2. Does a financial adviser CRM need to be FCA compliant?
Financial advice firms must meet the FCA requirements applicable to their activities, but the FCA does not provide a blanket approval for individual CRM products. The firm must ensure its processes, records, controls and customer outcome monitoring are suitable. CRM software can support these obligations.
3. How much does CRM software cost for UK financial advisers?
Prices vary by platform and number of users. Plannr publishes pricing of £140 per employee per month plus VAT. Salesforce Financial Services Cloud Sales Enterprise is listed at £260 per user per month, billed annually. Other specialist vendors commonly provide tailored quotations.
4. Can Salesforce be used by independent financial advisers?
Yes. Salesforce can support client relationship management, communication, workflows and reporting for financial advice businesses. Depending on the firm’s requirements, specialist applications may still be needed for financial planning, suitability reporting or product research. Proper configuration and compliance review are necessary.
5. What features should an FCA-regulated advice firm look for in a CRM?
Look for structured client records, fact-finding support, document management, secure permissions, audit information, ongoing review workflows and useful management reporting. Check integration with financial planning software and whether the system supports the firm’s applicable FCA obligations and UK GDPR requirements.
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Joshua Eze is the Founder & Salesforce Architect at Sailwayz, a certified Salesforce Consulting Partner based in the UK. With over 6 years of experience leading CRM transformations, he is a certified Application & System Architect passionate about using technology to simplify business processes. Joshua helps companies unlock the full potential of Salesforce with strategic, scalable, and secure solutions.