Case study

Tech-Forward RIA Relies on Addepar to Deliver
Modern Client Experience

Three Bell Capital

Three Bell Capital, founded in 2011, is focused on delivering customized wealth management services to high-net-worth entrepreneurs and innovators, in a modern, user-friendly way. Founders Jon Porter and Eric Patterson are passionate about providing differentiated, holistic financial advice for their entrepreneurial clients so that they can remain focused on building technology that helps improve the world. This approach was validated when the Financial Times recognized the firm as one of the top 300 U.S. wealth advisors for 2019.

HEADQUARTERS

Los Altos, California

FOUNDERS

Jon Porter
Eric Patterson

ESTABLISHED

2011

ASSETS UNDER ADVISEMENT

$1.8B

TECH PARTNER INTEGRATION

eMoney Advisor®

CUSTODIANS

TD Ameritrade
Charles Schwab
PENSCO
Forge Trust

CLIENTS SERVED

398

TEAM MEMBERS

12

CHALLENGE

Delivering a simple, flexible platform for tech-savvy investors

Located in the heart of Silicon Valley, Three Bell has demonstrated experience providing comprehensive financial advice to technology entrepreneurs and executives. “These investors experience a zero-to-sixty moment when suddenly they reach a place where they have to plan for their financial future very differently than they did the day before,” says Porter. The team at Three Bell aspires to provide clients with clean, user-friendly, comprehensive reporting that meets the client where they are and grows with them.

“Our mission is to take all the personal finance variables out of the equation for entrepreneurs so they can focus on getting their game-changing products and services to market even faster,” said Porter. To do that, the advisors at Three Bell need to feel confident in their technology suite so they can focus on cultivating meaningful relationships with their clients.

"It’s not just that we want things to look and feel a certain way, it’s that it actually helps clients better understand and evaluate their investments, and ultimately make better decisions."

Jon Porter

When considering the client experience and delivering comprehensive reporting, including alternatives, Three Bell faced the challenge of finding a technology partner that could deliver customizable solutions that cater to tech-savvy and ambitious investors who are accustomed to instant access to information. It was critical for them to find a partner who is equally committed to delivering a high-touch, personalized experience. 

SOLUTION

Using customization to offer a modern digital experience

“Addepar is at the core of almost everything we do with our clients,” said Porter. “We can organize the information and serve it up in a way that makes the most sense.”

Today’s modern investors are savvy, tech-oriented, conscious about security, and accustomed to accessing information from the tips of their fingers. With this in mind, Three Bell is keen to ensure it is always investing in tools that keep it ahead of the curve.

"Addepar is at the core of almost everything we do with our clients."

Jon Porter

In the past year, the firm reevaluated Addepar’s offerings against other financial technology providers. “We put together an extensive matrix detailing and comparing the features and benefits of almost every performance reporting platform on the market,” said Porter. That included price, user interface, data reporting capabilities, and many other variables. “The thing that was most important was the ability to aggregate and display the data the way that we wanted,” he added.

Regardless of the size of the client, advisors want to present information in a way that
best represents their deep understanding of client goals and priorities, as well as the performance of the underlying portfolio itself. In Three Bell’s review, they determined that other platforms have substantial limitations with customized client reporting and portal capabilities. With Addepar, Three Bell can instantly customize which asset categories are presented, what metrics are used to measure the performance of those assets, and even adjust the colors and graphics that together create a report’s visual feel. These visualizations dramatically improve clients’ understanding and assimilation of information. “Addepar is light years ahead in every category as it relates to customization,” said Porter. “The data is thoughtfully displayed, allowing us to have more productive conversations with clients.” 

"Addepar is light years ahead in every category as it relates to customization."

Jon Porter

RESULTS

Leave performance to the pros so clients can focus on larger goals

“It’s not just that we want things to look and feel a certain way,” Porter said, “it’s that it actually helps clients better understand and evaluate their investments, and ultimately make better decisions.” Putting performance data within a reporting framework that emphasizes each client’s progress against their larger goals can help clients focus on the metrics that are most impactful.

"The Portal view allows us to transcend traditional performance conversations with clients, enabling us to elevate our relationships."

Jon Porter

Three Bell’s clients routinely log in to the Addepar-powered portal to review their portfolios. “The Portal view allows us to transcend traditional performance conversations with clients, enabling us to elevate our relationships, and move away from things like static quarterly reporting in favor of 24/7 live updated performance,” says Porter. Four
out of five clients responded in a survey conducted by Three Bell that they’re satisfied with the data available through the portal and how that data is presented. Some requested specific changes, like the ability to see separate performance data on managed and non- managed accounts, and thanks to the customization Addepar offers, Three Bell was able to adapt the technology to give those customers what they wanted.

With Addepar’s wide-ranging customization capabilities, coupled with its clean and modern reporting aesthetic (“Apple-like”, says Porter), the Three Bell Capital team is able to spend more time engaging in meaningful conversations with its clients. “We understand that software is going to help us represent our clients better,” said Porter. “The more adept we are at utilizing the software, the better our service and performance will be – and the better the client experience will be.”