As the financial services industry becomes increasingly digital and client expectations evolve, many advisory firms are realizing the limitations of legacy CRMs like Redtail. In 2025, a growing number of financial advisors across the US and Europe are transitioning to more scalable, secure, and customizable platforms — with Salesforce Financial Services Cloud emerging as the clear frontrunner.
If your firm is planning a Redtail to Salesforce migration, this guide will help you understand the key benefits, process steps, compliance considerations, and tools involved in ensuring a seamless transition. Whether you’re a registered investment advisor (RIA), a wealth management consultancy, or an enterprise firm, our Salesforce migration services are designed to eliminate risk and maximize long-term value.
Why Migrate from Redtail to Salesforce?
Redtail has long been a popular CRM for independent advisors and small to mid-sized wealth management firms. However, as firms grow and regulatory demands increase, Redtail’s limited scalability, automation, and integration capabilities become constraints.
Here’s why many firms are choosing Salesforce as their next-gen CRM:
Advanced automation for lead nurturing, task tracking, and portfolio management
Flexible data architecture for handling complex financial records
Enhanced compliance with FINRA, SEC (US), GDPR, MiFID II (Europe)
Seamless integrations with financial planning tools like eMoney, Orion, and DocuSign
Scalability from small advisory teams to global wealth enterprises
Salesforce Financial Services Cloud offers tailored features for client relationship tracking, householding, financial goals, and regulatory recordkeeping — far beyond what Redtail provides.
Check out our complete guide on Salesforce Data Migration for Enterprise in 2025.
Redtail vs. Salesforce: Key Features Comparison
Features
Redtail CRM
Salesforce Financial Services Cloud
Automation
Basic workflows
Advanced process builder & flows
Compliance Support
Limited
FINRA, SEC, GDPR-ready
Integrations
Moderate (some third-party)
Extensive AppExchange ecosystem
Data Modeling
Basic fields and activities
Customizable objects and relationships
Scalability
Small to mid-size firms
Firms of all sizes, globally
Reporting & Analytics
Limited
AI-powered dashboards & reporting
Support
Email/phone
Enterprise-grade SLAs & support options
The Business Case for Salesforce Migration Services
Investing in professional Salesforce migration services is critical for firms that can’t afford data loss, downtime, or compliance gaps. Here's why:
Data Integrity: Ensures accurate mapping of contacts, notes, tasks, accounts, and more during your Redtail CRM to Salesforce CRM migration.
Customization Support: Tailors Salesforce for your workflows, roles, and compliance rules during your migration from Redtail to Salesforce.
Third-party Tool Integration: Connect your new CRM with custodians, marketing software, and client portals seamlessly through Salesforce data migration services.
Improved Decision-Making: Unlock powerful analytics and forecasting tools native to Salesforce
If you're considering whether to migrate internally or hire experts, keep in mind that a botched Redtail to Salesforce migration can lead to operational disruption, data breaches, and reduced advisor productivity.
Step-by-Step: How to Migrate Data from Redtail to Salesforce
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A smooth Redtail to Salesforce migration requires careful planning, structured execution, and testing. Here's a proven 7-step process our team uses to deliver high-impact Salesforce data migration services:
1.Discovery & Pre-Migration Audit
Identify data to be migrated (contacts, accounts, notes, activities, workflows)
Document current Redtail usage patterns
Evaluate integrations with financial planning or custodian tools
Assess compliance requirements for US (SEC/FINRA) and EU (GDPR)
2. Redtail Data Export
Redtail allows you to export client data in standard CSV or structured formats. For guidance, refer to their official Salesforce Implementation Guide which outlines available export options and best practices.
Key data types exported from Redtail include:
Contacts and accounts
Notes and activities
Calendar entries
User assignments
Custom fields and categories
3. Salesforce Environment Configuration
Before importing data, set up your Salesforce instance:
Install Financial Services Cloud or Sales Cloud, depending on your needs
Define custom objects, layouts, and record types
Configure user roles, permissions, and compliance settings
Install third-party apps or integrations (e.g., Riskalyze, Black Diamond)
4. Data Mapping & Cleansing
Data fields from Redtail must be mapped to Salesforce objects. This involves:
Matching standard fields (e.g., Contact First Name to Contact.FirstName)
Creating custom fields in Salesforce where needed
Removing duplicates, outdated records, and blank fields
For specifics on how Redtail data aligns with Salesforce, consult Redtail’s Salesforce Data Sync Mapping Standard. This ensures your Salesforce data migration services accurately reflect your existing CRM.
5. Data Import & Validation
Use tools like:
Salesforce Data Loader
Dataloader.io
Custom APIs or middleware (for large/multi-region firms)
Once data is imported:
Run validation reports
Cross-check field mappings
Validate activities and notes timelines
Conduct user acceptance testing (UAT)
6. User Training & Adoption
Offer hands-on training for advisors, admins, and support staff to maximize your investment in Salesforce migration services.
Customize dashboards for different user roles
Create quick-reference guides and workflow template
Encourage early wins with automation and reporting features
7. Post-Migration Support
Monitor system performance
Tweak automations based on usage
Run compliance reports for audit trails
Offer 30–60 days of support to ensure adoption and success of your Redtail to Salesforce migration.
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Common Challenges When You Migrate Data from Redtail to Salesforce
While the benefits are clear, the migration process also comes with risks. Here are common challenges and how to solve them:
Challenges
Solutions
Incomplete field mapping
Pre-migration mock runs and field auditing
Data duplication
Use deduplication tools or scripts
Loss of activity notes or history
Validate data mapping to custom Salesforce objects
Compliance gaps
Configure secure field-level access and audit logs
User resistance
Involve advisors early in the process and customize dashboards
Redtail CRM to Salesforce Migration Timeline for 2025
Phase
Timeline (Approximate)
CRM Assessment
1-2 weeks
Migration Planning
1 week
Data Extraction & Mapping
2-3 weeks
Salesforce Configuration
2 weeks
Data Import & Testing
1-2 weeks
Go-Live & Optimization
Ongoing
Real-World Example: US RIA Firm Migrates from Redtail to Salesforce in 30 Days
Background: A 15-advisor RIA firm in California needed advanced automation, GDPR compliance, and integration with their portfolio tools.
Solutions:
Full Redtail data export with cleansing
Salesforce Financial Services Cloud setup
Migration from Redtail to Salesforce of 50,000+ contact records and 80,000+ activities
Enabled workflow automation for onboarding and quarterly reviews
Integrated eMoney, Calendly, and Riskalyze
Results:
Increased task efficiency by 42%
Reduced compliance reporting time by 60%
Achieved full user adoption within 3 weeks
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Final Thoughts: Is Your Firm Ready for a Salesforce Upgrade?
In 2025, data-driven and compliant advisory firms are growing faster than ever — and legacy CRMs like Redtail are increasingly holding them back. Migrating to Salesforce gives you the flexibility, automation, and compliance framework you need to scale confidently.
If you're ready to upgrade, our expert-led Salesforce migration services are here to help you make the switch — without disruption, without data loss, and without guesswork.
FAQ’s about Redtail to Salesforce Migration
Q1: How long does it take to migrate from Redtail to Salesforce?
A typical Redtail to Salesforce migration takes 4 to 8 weeks, depending on the size and complexity of your CRM data, the number of integrations, and compliance requirements. For smaller advisory firms with clean data and limited integrations, the migration from Redtail to Salesforce may be complete in as little as 2–4 weeks. Larger firms with complex workflows, third-party tools (e.g., portfolio platforms, e-signature solutions), and compliance customization may require 6–8 weeks for thorough testing and user adoption. A phased approach is often recommended to minimize business disruption.
Q2: What data can be migrated from Redtail to Salesforce?
You can migrate all core Redtail CRM to Salesforce CRM data, including:
Client contacts, accounts, and households
Activity history, including notes, tasks, calendar events, and emails
User assignments, categories, and custom tags
Custom fields (mapped to Salesforce custom fields/objects)
Workflows and activity templates (converted to Salesforce Flows and Process Builders where possible)
Some legacy data formats may require transformation or re-mapping to Salesforce’s data model. We ensure your client history, compliance documentation, and relationship data migrate intact with our Salesforce data migration services.
Q3: Will my Redtail workflow automations transfer to Salesforce?
Redtail’s basic workflow automations don’t transfer directly but can be recreated and enhanced in Salesforce. Salesforce Financial Services Cloud offers:
Flow Builder and Process Builder: for advanced, automated workflows.
Task & activity automation: for recurring client follow-ups and compliance reviews.
Custom workflow templates: tailored to your firm's onboarding, annual reviews, and financial goal tracking.
Our Salesforce migration services’ team helps rebuild your essential Redtail automations while optimizing them to leverage Salesforce’s advanced automation capabilities.
Q4: Is the migration process secure and compliant with FINRA, SEC, and GDPR?
Yes, our Salesforce migration services follow strict compliance protocols for financial services. We implement:
Encrypted data transfers
Secure user authentication
Field-level security and access controls for sensitive financial data
Audit logs for compliance reporting
Compliance workflows aligned with FINRA, SEC, GDPR, and MiFID II
Additionally, Salesforce itself is SOC 2, ISO 27001, and GDPR-compliant, making it a trusted platform for secure data storage and management.
Q5: How do we ensure data integrity during the Redtail to Salesforce migration?
We follow a proven multi-step validation process in all Salesforce data migration services:
Pre-migration audit: Identify all relevant fields, duplicates, and data inconsistencies in Redtail.
Data cleansing: Remove duplicate contacts, outdated accounts, and blank fields.
Field mapping: Align Redtail fields with Salesforce objects using a mapping blueprint.
Test migrations: Perform trial runs in a Salesforce sandbox environment.
Post-import validation: Verify that contact histories, notes, and activities appear correctly in Salesforce.
This approach minimizes the risk of data loss or corruption.
Q6: Can we migrate while actively using Redtail, or do we need downtime?
You can continue using Redtail during most of the migration preparation phase, including audits and sandbox testing. A brief read-only period (typically a few hours a day) is recommended during the final data migration and cutover phase to prevent changes from being missed. Our team helps schedule downtime during low-activity periods (e.g., weekends or evenings) to minimize business impact.
Q7: What if we also need to integrate Salesforce with financial planning tools?
Salesforce has a robust AppExchange ecosystem and supports native or third-party integrations with:
Financial planning tools: eMoney, RightCapital, MoneyGuidePro
Portfolio management platforms: Orion, Tamarac, Black Diamond
E-signature tools: DocuSign, HelloSign
Custodian data feeds: Schwab, Fidelity, Pershing
Calendaring & email: Microsoft Outlook, Google Workspace
We configure these integrations during or after your website Salesforce migration services project to create a unified tech stack post Redtail CRM to Salesforce CRM migration.
Q8: How do you help with user adoption and training?
We provide end-to-end Salesforce adoption support, including:
Role-based training sessions: for advisors, operations, and compliance staff
Custom dashboards & layouts: designed for each user’s daily needs
Quick-start guides and video tutorials
Workflow templates: for client onboarding, review meetings, and compliance alerts
Post-migration Q&A sessions and support desk availability
This ensures your team feels confident and productive using Salesforce from day one.
Q9: What are the risks of a DIY Redtail to Salesforce migration?
While DIY migration may seem cost-effective, financial firms risk:
Data loss or corruption during manual export/import.
Incorrect field mappings, especially for custom Redtail fields.
Compliance gaps if audit trails and access permissions aren't properly configured.
Downtime and workflow disruption during cutover.
Missed integration opportunities without expert Salesforce configuration solutions.
A professional salesforce migration partner mitigates these risks with proven processes, compliance expertise, and financial services industry knowledge.
Q10: How much do Salesforce migration services cost for financial advisors?
Costs of Salesforce Migration Services vary based on:
Data volume: Number of contacts, accounts, and activity records.
Customizations required: Financial Services Cloud setup, workflow rebuilds, custom dashboards.
Integrations: e.g., portfolio tools, e-signature platforms, or marketing systems.
Training & post-migration support: Onboarding, user training, and admin enablement.
On average, small to mid-sized advisory firms can expect $15,000–$40,000 for a full-service migration, with larger enterprise firms budgeting higher for complex environments. We provide customized quotes based on your needs.