Some tools are fundamental, others are more niche, but overall, it’s very clear that the tech stack of AdviceTech Stars in 2025 has been carefully curated to elevate the client experience.

Key takeaways:

• Curated tech stacks are redefining client engagement and setting new standards for advice delivery.
• Leading firms blend essential and niche tools, driving smarter, more personalised, and scalable solutions.
• Every technology choice is intentional - focused on elevating the client experience and staying ahead in a rapidly evolving industry.

As advice firms strive to provide the level of insights, communication, security, and trust that clients of today demand, they’re increasingly leveraging new technologies to help. 

In particular, the Netwealth 2025 AdviceTech Buyer’s Guide found that AdviceTech Stars – the firms that take a pioneering position when it comes to adopting technology – are curating tech stacks that enable smoother operations and workflows, support the delivery of advice and planning, and streamline client engagement. 

Here, we unpack the top six tools in the tech stack of AdviceTech Stars, where adoption by Stars was over 90%. We share the percentage of uptake by Stars, as well as how many firms in the overall cohort have adopted the tools, for comparison. 

Whether it’s a digital signature tool to save time on printing and scanning, or reporting capabilities to keep clients fully updated, there may be a tool used by the Stars that could make a difference to your business in 2026.

1. Customer Relationship Management (CRM), 94%: CRMs are centralised platforms to manage all aspects of client relationships, including client details, documents, and interaction history. Use amongst the Stars is notably up from the 2024 figure of 76%. For the overall cohort, use is 88%.
2. Cloud hosted email or other cloud-hosted internal communications services, 94%: Also at 94% adoption by Stars, these platforms enable firms to manage email, calendars, messaging, and video conferencing. Use by Stars was slightly down on the 2024 result of 96%, but still ahead of the overall cohort at 88%. 
3. Digital signature tools, 93%: These tools enable secure and legally binding electronic signing of documents. Use by Stars was up 8% on the 2024 result of 85%, and notably more than overall at 82%.
4. Cloud hosted online document storage and sharing, 92%: These platforms provide a secure environment for storing, accessing, and sharing files across devices and locations. Use by Stars was up 8% compared to 2024, and was 10% more than the overall cohort’s use at 82%.  
5. Online meeting tools for clients, 90%: These enable virtual client communication via video, audio, and chat, supported by features like screen sharing, recording, and AI notetaking. Use was significantly up 21% by Stars compared to the 2024 result of 69%, and 10% greater than the overall cohort response of 80%.
6. Super/investment platforms, 90%: Also coming in at 90% adoption by Stars, these secure online solutions help advice firms manage client portfolios, trading, and reporting. They offer access to a broad range of investment options. Star use of 90% was the same as 2024, and very close to the overall response of 89%.

Strong adoption with room to grow

The AdviceTech Stars also have a very strong adoption rate of over 80% for a selection of other tools – rounding out their quite comprehensive tech stacks. Tools used by between 80-90% of Stars include:

• Investment research tools, 87%
• Professional development tools or providers for CPD training, 87%
• Tech to create and send email campaigns, 85%
• Tech to create and provide reports and analysis to clients, 82%
• Tech for secure document sharing with clients, 82%
• Digital tools to manage internal tasks, activities, or projects, 82%
• Tools and calculators to demonstrate strategies to clients, 82%
• Tech to research potential platforms or insurance products for clients, 80%