A former financial advisor, frustrated by the constraints of conventional CRM tools, has introduced an artificial-intelligence-driven platform tailored to advisory firms' actual workflows. The startup, FinTurk, emerged from beta this week with an $8 billion registered investment advisor as its inaugural enterprise customer.
Chicago Partners Wealth Advisors, a Chicago-based RIA overseeing more than $8 billion in assets for high-net-worth clients through a team of over 50 advisors, transitioned to FinTurk in the first quarter of 2026. The firm is not merely a client but an active design partner, feeding real-world operational needs into the product's development roadmap.
Mitchell Bratina, a CFA charterholder and FinTurk's founder and CEO, said the concept originated from tools he built for himself during his tenure as an advisor. “While working as an advisor, I found myself building tools to handle manual processes and fill gaps in existing CRM systems,” Bratina explained. “As those tools gained traction, it became clear there was a broader need for a platform designed around how firms actually operate, which led us to build FinTurk. Today, firms like Chicago Partners can rapidly move to a more flexible, AI-powered CRM without the long, costly implementation cycles that have historically defined CRM transitions, delivering meaningful productivity gains more quickly.”
The platform integrates portfolio management, workflow automation, and artificial intelligence into a single customizable system. It generates client insights, recommends tasks, and automates manual processes, positioning itself as an alternative to what Bratina describes as rigid legacy systems that force advisors to adapt their workflows to the software rather than the other way around.
Nicholas Guido, partner and chief operating officer at Chicago Partners, noted the switch has already altered how advisors allocate their time. “When reevaluating our CRM, we needed technology that could keep up with our growth and ambitions and provide deep customization options,” Guido said. “Instead of wrestling with workflows, FinTurk has allowed our advisors to focus on client relationships while streamlining day-to-day operations. The result is faster response times, more thorough meeting preparation and the ability to serve more households without sacrificing service quality.”
FinTurk supports meeting preparation and note-taking, automated client reviews, portfolio tracking, and household-level views. It integrates with existing technology stacks, including portfolio management systems and document management tools. The launch comes amid a broader push by wealth management firms to adopt AI-driven solutions, as seen in recent moves by Wells Fargo and Raymond James.
The CRM market for advisors has long been dominated by legacy providers, but a wave of fintech startups is challenging the status quo. FinTurk’s emphasis on customization and rapid deployment could appeal to mid-sized and large RIAs seeking to modernize without protracted implementation timelines. Chicago Partners’ role as a design partner suggests the platform is being shaped by the practical demands of a sizable, multi-advisor firm.
Bratina’s background as a practitioner may lend credibility to FinTurk’s value proposition. The company is betting that its AI-powered features, such as automated client insights and task recommendations, will differentiate it from competitors that offer more generic solutions. As the wealth management industry continues to consolidate and embrace technology, tools that streamline operations while enhancing client service are likely to gain traction.
