iPro One adds ASI Client Acquisition Solution to its platform for advisors. iPro One, a wealth-management platform provider to CPA-affiliated investment advisories, has selected Advisor Software Inc.'s (ASI) ASI Client Acquisition Solution, a client-proposal and tax-aware portfolio-diagnostics application that integrates with tax-preparation and client-management systems, to help its institutional clients and partner firms make more of end-client relationships.

The ASI tool, "is a natural fit with our CPA360 platform because it can adapt easily to the individual needs of investment advisors within our member CPA firms, including analysis, risk assessment, reporting, planning and modeling," says iPro One's Anthony Wood.

Acquisition strategy

ASI's president and COO Neal Ringquist says ASI Client Acquisition Solution uses "institutional-caliber analytics including asset allocation, style and industry sector exposure, security overlap, efficient frontier, fixed income, performance and risk-return analysis as well as Monte Carlo simulation" that helps advisors "better serve existing clients and convert more prospects into clients."

New York-based iPro One started out in 2005 as a provider of third-party investment products and related consulting services to CPA-lined wealth managers. It still does that, but this year added another approach to its target marketplace: it buys into CPA-based investment advisories to help them with business development, transition management and continuity.

iPro One started that ball rolling this past spring when it bought into HbK Sorce Financial, the wealth-management subsidiary of Alliance, Ohio-based CPA Hill, Barth & King. It got the capital to start acquiring CPA-based wealth-managers about a year ago when Houston-based investment bank Sanders Morris Harris purchased 25% owner of the firm (with an option to buy another 25% later).

iPro One plans to make about five acquisitions a year through the next five years.

Lafayette, Calif.-based ASI provides investment-analysis software to asset managers, broker-dealers, banks, insurance companies and other financial companies. -FWR

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