Sharing files through back-and-forth emails can be a hassle for your advisor firm. If you’re still sharing files across your team like this, it’s time to make an upgrade. Implementing a file-sharing tool such as Dropbox, Sharefile, Google Drive, and NetDocuments can take all the stress and confusion away!
Security is of the utmost importance when it comes to file sharing. As a financial advisor, you deal with many sensitive pieces of information for your clients and within your own business. Choosing the right file sharing and document storage platforms can make your everyday workflow much more efficient. That’s why we’ve outlined some of our top file-sharing tools to make it easier for you!
1. Dropbox Business
Dropbox is a cloud-based tech company that provides a secure platform to create and/or share data. With its flexible storage plans and third-party app integrations, it’s an excellent tool for financial advisors to collaborate with their teams and clients.
Best Features:
- Usable on desktop apps, mobile apps, or online at dropbox.com
- Easy and secure sharing or viewing of documents, photos, and videos
- Editing access allows your team to edit, comment on, and view files
- Anytime, anywhere access
- File recovery and version history of documents
Pricing:
- For DropBox Business Standard, a membership is $12.50 per user per month, starting at 3 users. For DropBox Business Advanced, a membership is $20 per user, per month, starting at 3 users.
Differences in DropBox Standard (left) and Advanced (right):
2. Sharefile
Sharefile allows teams to simply and securely collaborate online all in one place. The platform makes file sharing, E-signatures, feedback, and approvals a more cohesive process. Financial advisors can use Sharefile to work with their team in real-time from anywhere.
Best Features:
- Bank-level encryption
- Control individual files and folders
- Remote wipe of lost devices
- No downloads or plugins required
- Zero size restrictions on files
- Easy to integrate with your Twenty Over Ten website.
- Compatible with all iOS, Android, Windows or Blackberry devices
Pricing:
- Standard: $10/month, unlimited storage, 1 employee
- Advanced: $77/ month, unlimited storage, 5 employees
- Premium: $122/ month, unlimited storage, 5 employees
- Virtual Data Room: $338/ month, 5GB, 5 employees
3. NetDocuments
NetDocumets has over twenty years of experience securing intellectual assets, ensuring the availability of information, and protecting it from disaster. NetDocuments uses technology to help streamline and improve efficiency amongst team members. Originally designed with law firms in mind, financial advisors can leverage the platform’s security measures to protect all of their clients information.
Best Features:
- Cloud-based document management
- Integration with Microsoft Office and Adobe applications
- Follow folders and receive alerts
- Customize user access to grant or restrict editing rights to files
- Easily search through entire repository with full-text enterprise search
What to Know:
- A Basic package is $20 per user per month or a Professional package is $30 per user per month
4. Google Drive/ Google One
With a Google Account, you get 15 GB of storage for free. Storage gets used by Google Drive, Gmail, and Google Photos, so you can store files, save your email attachments, and back up photos and videos. You can create and collaborate with others, share documents and files, build out spreadsheets and make a presentation on the fly with its Docs, Sheets and Slides apps. For more than 15 GB, you can upgrade to Google One.
Best Features:
- Ability to scan documents on your phone and upload them to shared files
- Documents can be made available offline so no internet connection is needed
- Access to old versions of revised documents to ensure nothing is lost
- Easily connects with Google Calendar and other Google apps
- Available on desktop, laptop, and mobile devices for easy access
Google One Pricing:
If you reach your 15 GB limit on Google Drive, you’ll need to pay for a Google One plan.
- 100 GB is $1.99 per month or $19.99 per year
- 200 GB is $2.99 per month or $29.99 per year