With more than 110,000 advisors using its platform, Envestnet remains one of the largest and most influential TAMPs in the wealth management space. But scale alone isn’t what sets it apart. Envestnet continues to innovate by enabling unparalleled flexibility and configurability, helping advisory firms—from RIAs to broker-dealers and hybrids—customize workflows, streamline operations, and deliver personalized advice to clients.
In an interview with The Wealth Advisor’s Scott Martin, Diane Havrilla, Director of Product Management at Envestnet, discussed the platform’s configurability, its integration-driven workflows, and upcoming innovations that reinforce Envestnet’s role as a vital partner for advisors navigating complex client demands.
Customization That Meets Advisors Where They Are
Every advisory practice operates differently. Envestnet understands that, and instead of forcing uniformity, it delivers customization as a central value proposition. According to Havrilla, “What it really comes down to is one word, our platform is so highly configurable.” That flexibility is critical when serving firms across a wide spectrum—from RIAs to broker-dealers and those blending both models.
Firms are empowered to tailor their experience across the Envestnet ecosystem, leveraging only the elements they need while integrating their proprietary technology. “Each firm has unique needs in the investing ecosystem, and we let them pick and choose what they want to leverage and utilize on our platform,” Havrilla explains. With robust plug-and-play capabilities and open architecture infrastructure, Envestnet enables advisors to connect external systems seamlessly into its workflows.
The open structure is more than a technology choice—it’s a strategic advantage that enables advisors to maintain their unique value propositions while benefiting from Envestnet’s tools. That level of customization allows advisory businesses to scale without compromise.
Seamless Integration Across the Advisor Workflow
The integration of core systems into Envestnet’s workflow can be groundbreaking for firms looking to streamline proposal generation, risk assessment, and client onboarding. The focus on interoperability ensures that Envestnet can accommodate diverse use cases, no matter how complex or special they may be.
“We have so many unique use cases that get brought to us. From a product perspective, when we’re thinking about building and solving client challenges, we’re able to build to this open architecture infrastructure so that we don’t have to build a solution every single time something new comes up,” Havrilla says.
By linking client data from CRMs directly into Envestnet’s ecosystem, advisors can build custom portfolios, generate proposals, and pass that data to custodians or third-party account-opening platforms. The ability to connect disparate systems reduces operational friction, improves compliance tracking, and enhances the client experience.
“It’s a more seamless experience for the advisor too,” says Havrilla. “It is a better scaling opportunity for the firm to have a more seamless advisor experience. It’s really a win-win when it comes to that functionality of our platform and the open architecture.”
Efficient workflows aren’t just about saving time—they’re critical for delivering consistent, high-quality service to clients at scale. By unifying different tools into a cohesive process, Envestnet empowers firms to focus more on delivering advice and less on managing back-office logistics.
Innovation Within Portfolio Construction Tools
Portfolio customization is central to the advisor-client relationship, but it’s also one of the most complex and time-intensive parts of the job. Envestnet’s proposal tool addresses that challenge with a robust and highly customizable application that supports direct indexing, overlay management, and access to a wide array of managed products.
“I do think it’s an industry leader, and the customization that can be done within the tool itself is quite vast,” says Havrilla. She adds that the proposal options continue to evolve with new capabilities aimed at supporting personalization and efficiency.
One such feature is the ability to upload custom PDF content through Report Studio. As Havrilla explains, “We’ve built this custom PDF content capability leveraging our Report Studio functionality, and I think that’s going to be a game changer.” Advisors can now embed their branding, messaging, and value propositions directly into proposal presentations, giving clients a clearer understanding of the advisory relationship—not just the investments.
The update goes beyond aesthetics to reflect Envestnet’s broader mission to help advisors differentiate themselves in a competitive environment where clarity, transparency, and storytelling matter as much as returns.
True Open Investment Architecture
Advisors seeking freedom in constructing client portfolios benefit from Envestnet’s commitment to open investment architecture within its ecosystem. From third-party managers to proprietary models, direct indexing, alternative investments, and more, advisors can select from a broad range of products and strategies to align with client goals.
“Within that workflow, advisors bring their client in from the CRM. They can assess that client’s risk . . . and then they have open access to all of the managed products on our platform,” says Havrilla. Notably, customization doesn’t stop at product selection. Advisors can also apply Envestnet’s tax management and values-based overlays to create highly tailored portfolios that reflect individual client preferences and financial goals.
That degree of flexibility allows advisors to design portfolios that are both sophisticated and client-centric, enhancing the firm’s value proposition and reinforcing client trust.
Listening to the Advisor Community
Envestnet’s success is the result of technological investment bolstered by continuous feedback from its advisor network. “We love hearing feedback from our clients,” Havrilla says. “That is what we thrive on. That is music to our ears in ways that we can continue to make their experience better.”
By incorporating advisor insights into its development cycle, Envestnet ensures that its roadmap stays aligned with real-world challenges. From small usability improvements to new features, everything is informed by direct advisor input. The collaborative approach drives innovation and results in a platform that evolves in step with advisors’ needs.
Feedback loops also improve adoption and satisfaction. When advisors know their voices are heard and translated into platform improvements, it fosters deeper engagement and loyalty. “That’s what allows our platform to become better and better: partnering with our clients,” Havrilla adds.
Actionable Intelligence Delivered in Real Time
One of the most exciting developments on Envestnet’s roadmap is the expansion of its “insights” feature within the proposal tool. Rather than passively surfacing information, the insights highlight portfolio inefficiencies—such as high fees or underperformance—and connect them directly to actionable opportunities.
“When an advisor is going in and making an active change in the portfolio construction tool, they’re going to be able to see those insights now in line with actionable changes that they can make with the insight,” says Havrilla.
By integrating insights directly into the decision-making process, Envestnet enhances the quality of advice and helps advisors act more confidently and efficiently. Rather than reacting to data in retrospect, advisors can now leverage real-time analytics as part of their client interactions, enabling a more proactive and strategic approach to portfolio management.
Supporting All Advisor Models—Now and in the Future
While technology is at the forefront of Envestnet’s offering, the company also remains deeply committed to serving the full spectrum of advisory businesses. “We’re continuing to be dedicated to serving our RIA clients, our broker-dealer clients, and every flavor in between,” Havrilla says. “That’s not changing.”
From proposal customization to insights and reporting, Envestnet is intentionally designing solutions that support different business models and practice structures. By not favoring one segment over another, Envestnet creates a level playing field where advisors of all types can thrive.
This inclusive strategy is especially meaningful as advisors face a fast-evolving regulatory environment, rising client expectations, and rapidly shifting market conditions. Envestnet’s blend of scale, flexibility, and innovation makes it a reliable partner for long-term success.
Building the Future of Advisory Technology
Envestnet delivers far more than a traditional TAMP—it provides a deeply configurable, fully integrated, and continuously evolving ecosystem that enables firms to scale operations, personalize client service, and differentiate in a crowded marketplace. From CRM integrations and customizable proposals to tax-aware portfolio overlays and real-time insights, every element is purpose-built to meet advisors at their current stage—and support future growth.
As Havrilla puts it, the pace of innovation is only accelerating: “We’re building a lot of great things on the platform. So, I’m excited for advisors to see what we have on our roadmap and what we’re integrating from a portfolio construction perspective too.”
For advisory firms evaluating their TAMP partners—or looking to take their practices to the next level—Envestnet continues to prove itself as a premier choice, built on configurability, innovation, and a true partnership mindset.
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Disclosures
The information, analysis, and opinions expressed herein are for general information only. Nothing contained in this document is intended to constitute legal, tax, securities, or investment advice, nor an opinion regarding the appropriateness of any investment, nor a solicitation of any type. Investing carries certain risks and there is no assurance that investing in accordance with the portfolios or strategies mentioned will provide positive performance over any period of time. Investors could lose money if they invest in accordance with the portfolios or strategies discussed herein. Past performance is not indicative of future results.
Neither Envestnet, Envestnet | PMC™ nor its representatives render tax, accounting or legal advice. Any tax statements contained herein are not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, for the purpose of avoiding U.S. federal, state, or local tax penalties. Taxpayers should always seek advice based on their own particular circumstances from an independent tax advisor. Client must carefully determine if the use of tax overlay services is appropriate for their circumstances, risk tolerance, and investment objectives.
