If the only time you talk to your IT provider is when your bill’s due or something breaks—your firm is at risk.
Here in Salt Lake City, where wealth management firms are juggling hybrid teams, strict SEC/FINRA regulations, and growing cybersecurity risks, IT cannot be a "set it and forget it" function.
That’s why regular, proactive check-ins with your IT partner are mission-critical. They keep your firm secure, compliant, and competitive.
But most RIAs and financial advisors don’t know what to ask. So here’s your insider checklist.
These are the 7 questions every financial advisor in Salt Lake should be asking their IT provider—every single quarter.
- Are There Any Immediate Cybersecurity Vulnerabilities We Need to Fix?
This is not paranoia—it’s protection.
You need straight answers on:
- Unpatched systems or outdated wealth tech platforms
- Missed antivirus updates
- Any signs of phishing or social engineering attempts
Advisors like you handle sensitive client data. If something’s vulnerable, you must know—before the SEC or your clients find out first.
- Are Our Backups Actually Working? And When Did You Last Test Them?
Backups aren’t optional. But they’re also not useful unless they’re tested regularly.
Ask your IT partner:
- Are we backing up financial planning software, CRM data, and compliance logs?
- Is our data stored off-site or in a secure cloud?
- Have we done a full restore recently?
You’d be shocked how many firms think they’re covered—until disaster strikes.
- Are Our Employees Following Security Protocols?
Your tech is only as strong as your least-trained employee.
Ask your MSP:
- Are we seeing any risky login activity?
- Have we scheduled recent phishing simulation training?
- Are all devices using multifactor authentication (MFA)?
If they don’t bring this up before you do—it’s a red flag.
- How’s Our Network Performance? Are We Losing Efficiency?
Your systems should support your team’s productivity—not drag it down.
Ask:
- Are there recurring latency or connectivity issues?
- Do we need hardware upgrades (like firewalls or switches)?
- Are there ways to optimize our cloud tools for faster load times?
Time is money, especially during client meetings. Don’t let slow tech cost you business.
- Are We Still Compliant With SEC, FINRA, and State Regulations?
Compliance isn’t just legal—it’s reputational. Falling short means fines, audits, and client trust issues.
You should know:
- Are our systems aligned with current FINRA/SEC cyber rules?
- Do we need policy or software updates?
- Is there a compliance audit checklist we should be following?
The best MSPs know the rules and help you stay two steps ahead.
- What Should We Be Budgeting For Next Quarter?
A good IT partner doesn’t surprise you with bills—they help you forecast wisely.
Ask:
- Are any licenses or contracts expiring?
- Any hardware close to end-of-life?
- Are there upcoming tech trends we should prepare for (e.g., AI tools, cloud migrations)?
Planning ahead prevents cost overruns and helps you scale smarter.
- What Emerging IT or Cybersecurity Trends Should We Be Watching?
Cybercriminals evolve. So should your IT.
Ask:
- Are there any threats Salt Lake firms are seeing more often?
- Are we behind in adopting best practices for hybrid work security?
- What’s the one thing you’d upgrade if this were your firm?
You don’t want to be the firm that falls behind and pays for it later.
If You’re Not Having These Conversations—It’s Time To Talk
If your current IT provider can’t answer these clearly—or isn’t even scheduling quarterly reviews—you’re not getting the protection your firm deserves.
At Qual IT, we specialize in supporting financial advisors across the Salt Lake region with proactive, compliance-driven IT and cybersecurity support.
Our FREE Cybersecurity & Network Assessment reveals what’s working, what’s vulnerable, and what needs to change.
Click Here to Schedule Your Free Assessment
We handle IT, so you can handle clients.
