Salesforce
The world's biggest CRM isn't always the right one.
Salesforce is powerful. But power without focus means complexity, cost, and configuration. If you're comparing Salesforce and Laylah as a financial advisor, here are the facts to decide with confidence.
Honest assessment
What Salesforce does well
Salesforce is the most recognized CRM in the world, and its presence in the financial sector is real. With Financial Services Cloud, Salesforce offers a version tailored to financial services that is worth considering.
- Mature and extensive ecosystem
Salesforce has a network of partners, integrators, and a marketplace (AppExchange) that extend the platform's capabilities well beyond CRM.
- Deep customization
Salesforce's flexibility lets you model complex processes, create custom objects, and adapt the interface to specific needs. For organizations with technical resources, this versatility is a real asset.
- Financial data model
Financial Services Cloud integrates sector-specific concepts (households, financial profiles, goals, life events) that provide a structure suited to wealth management.
- Artificial intelligence (Einstein)
Salesforce's AI capabilities automate certain tasks, generate predictive analytics, and offer recommendations based on CRM data.
- Recognized and reassuring brand
Salesforce's reputation facilitates stakeholder buy-in and offers a perception of long-term stability.
Feedback from advisors who evaluated Salesforce
What drives advisors to look for an alternative
Based on discussions with independent Canadian advisors who evaluated Salesforce for their practice, certain friction points consistently emerge.
- Complex and resource-intensive implementation
Salesforce is a powerful enterprise platform. However, setup typically requires consultants, customization, and several months of deployment. For independent advisory firms, this represents significant time and cost before delivering value.
- No native connection with the Canadian ecosystem
Automatic synchronization with Canadian insurers and dealer networks is not available. Advisors working with multiple carriers must rely on manual imports or custom integrations to centralize client data.
- Business features assembled piece by piece
Financial Services Cloud doesn't include a built-in FNA or a native secure client portal. These essentials for a Canadian financial advisor must be added via third-party apps or custom development.
- Total cost of ownership can escalate
Salesforce pricing relies on per-user licenses, add-on modules, implementation fees, and recurring maintenance. For an independent firm, the total cost (licenses, consultants, third-party apps, training) can become disproportionate relative to the daily value delivered. Additionally, accumulated customizations make any future migration complex and costly.
Your advantages
What you gain by switching to Laylah
- Real time savings: operational in days
Data import is handled by our internal team. Most advisors are operational within 24 hours to 5 days. No external consultants to hire, no complex configuration to orchestrate. Your CRM is personalized for your practice and our team actively supports you throughout.
- Clean and reliable data from 25+ Canadian feeds
Laylah connects directly to 25+ Canadian feeds (carriers, brokers, partners) and keeps your data up to date automatically. Your information is centralized, consistent, and reliable. Double entry disappears, and data quality becomes an asset, not a daily effort.
- Operational simplicity: FNA and client portal, built-in natively
The Financial Needs Analysis (FNA) is integrated into the platform and auto-fills with data already in your client file. The secure client portal lets your clients exchange documents and information in a dedicated portal, without third-party tools.
- One subscription, everything included
Laylah replaces multiple tools (FNA, CRM, document management, secure emails, client portal, compliance) with a single platform and transparent pricing. No modules to add, no hidden fees, no consultants to budget.
- Built by listening to advisors
Platform updates are driven by what financial advisors need in the field, not by corporate priorities. Your feedback shapes the roadmap.
Side-by-side comparison
- Implementation time
Salesforce
Several months with specialized consultants
Laylah
24h to 5 days (dedicated internal team)
- Canadian carrier/broker sync
Salesforce
No native integration
Laylah
25+ Canadian data feeds
- Financial Needs Analysis (FNA)
Salesforce
Not available
Laylah
Built-in and pre-filled
- Secure client portal
Salesforce
Not available
Laylah
Built-in natively
- Specialization
Salesforce
Enterprise CRM adapted for financial services
Laylah
Built exclusively for Canadian financial advisors
- Pricing model
Salesforce
Per-user licenses + modules + consultants
Laylah
All-in-one, transparent pricing
- Canadian compliance
Salesforce
Requires configuration
Laylah
Native, timestamped traceability, data in Canada
- Support
Salesforce
Partner and integrator ecosystem
Laylah
Internal team, personalized support
- Learning curve
Salesforce
Specialized training required
Laylah
Intuitive interface, quick onboarding
How migration from Salesforce works
Everything you need to know before switching CRM, in one practical guide.
Talk to our migration team
Get a personalized migration plan from our team. We will assess your current setup and guide you through every step.
FAQ About Migrating from Salesforce
Ready to simplify your transition?
Most advisors are operational in under 24 hours. Our team supports you at every step, because we know switching systems is stressful.
Assisted migration, free of charge. No commitment.