Investment Adviser Software Compared (2026)
Short answer
The four options
Spreadsheets and forms. Free and flexible, and fine for a handful of clients. Nothing stops a send, so the controls are only as good as your memory on a busy day.
Wealth and distribution CRMs. Strong portfolio reports and back office, usually designed around transactions. IA-specific checks vary; ask what happens to an unsuitable recommendation.
Research-broadcast platforms. Built for Research Analysts sending one call to many subscribers, often with a public track record. Good delivery, wrong model for personalised advice unless there is a real IA mode.
IA-specific software. Built around the IA client lifecycle, enforcing the order of profile, suitability, agreement and advice. Aktai is in this group.
Side by side
| Spreadsheets | Wealth CRMs | Research platforms | Aktai for IAs | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blocks advice when a step is missing | No | Rarely | Rarely | Yes: profile, suitability and agreement checked on every send |
| Suitability per recommendation | Manual | Sometimes | Rarely | Yes, with a coverage report |
| Agreement versions and re-consent | Manual | Rarely | Sometimes | Yes, Aadhaar eSign via your Leegality account |
| SEBI fee limits per family | Spreadsheet maths | Sometimes | Rarely | Yes, plans over the limit are rejected |
| Tamper-evident five-year record | No | Sometimes | Sometimes | Yes, SHA-256 chained |
| Private advice (no public track record) | Yes | Yes | Often public by default | Yes, track record switched off for IA |
| Delivery under your name | Personal WhatsApp | Email and app | Often | WhatsApp, email and Telegram, each send logged |
Price
Aktai’s Investment Adviser plans are the same as its Research Analyst plans, with most advisers starting on Professional. Every plan includes the IA rules. See current prices.
Frequently asked questions
What are the options for SEBI Investment Adviser software?
Broadly four: spreadsheets and forms, wealth and distribution CRMs, research-broadcast platforms built for Research Analysts, and software built for the IA regime such as Aktai. They differ most on whether the software can stop non-compliant advice going out.
Is a wealth CRM enough for IA compliance?
It covers reporting and client records well. Check whether it records suitability per recommendation, tracks agreement versions and enforces fee limits per family; many are built around distribution and leave those to you.
Can I use Research Analyst software as an Investment Adviser?
Only if it has a true IA mode. RA software is built to broadcast research and often shows a public track record, which does not fit personalised advice. Aktai runs both, with the IA rules on and the track record off for IA accounts.
Related reading
General information, not legal or compliance advice. SEBI rules change: check the current SEBI Investment Advisers Regulations, the Master Circular for Investment Advisers and recent circulars, and confirm your own position with your compliance officer.