Systems and tools overview

You'll interact with several software systems daily. This lesson gives you the map — what each tool does, when you use it, and where the training resources live. Deeper training on each platform happens in later tracks (especially D for trading and E for planning).

Portfolio management: Orion

Orion is our portfolio management and reporting platform. It's the system of record for every client account.

What it does:

• Aggregates all client accounts into a single view (401(k), IRA, brokerage, etc.)
• Calculates portfolio performance, asset allocation, and drift
• Generates client-facing performance reports for quarterly reviews
• Tracks billing and fee calculations

When you use it:

• Preparing for quarterly client reviews
• Answering client questions about performance or holdings
• Running allocation reports
• Reconciling account data

You'll receive Orion access credentials in your first week. Your login has role-based permissions — ask your manager if you need access to features not visible in your account.

Trading and rebalancing: Eclipse iRebal

Eclipse iRebal (integrated with Orion) is the tool we use to execute rebalancing trades across client portfolios.

What it does:

• Compares current portfolio allocations to target models
• Proposes trades to bring portfolios back into balance
• Handles tax-lot selection for tax-efficient trading
• Groups trades across households for efficiency
• Maintains an audit trail of every proposed and executed trade

When you use it:

• Quarterly rebalancing cycles
• Cash raises for client distributions
• New account funding and initial investment
• Tax-loss harvesting opportunities

Detailed iRebal training is covered in Track D (Trading & Rebalancing). For now, know that you should never execute a trade in iRebal without completing that training and receiving sign-off from a senior advisor.

Research and analytics: Morningstar Direct

Morningstar Direct is our research platform for investment analysis.

What it does:

• Fund screening and comparison (expense ratios, performance, holdings, risk metrics)
• Asset class research and market commentary
• Portfolio analytics (attribution, style analysis, overlap detection)
• Manager due diligence research

When you use it:

• Evaluating funds for inclusion in or removal from our model portfolios
• Preparing research memos for the investment committee
• Answering advisor questions about specific funds or asset classes
• Annual model portfolio review

Financial planning: Kwanti

Kwanti is our Monte Carlo simulation tool for financial planning projections.

What it does:

• Runs thousands of market scenarios to estimate the probability of meeting financial goals
• Models retirement income, spending, Social Security claiming strategies, and Roth conversions
• Produces visual probability-cone charts that clients can understand
• Stress-tests plans against historical worst-case scenarios

When you use it:

• Building new financial plans for prospects and clients
• Updating existing plans during annual reviews
• Modeling "what if" scenarios (early retirement, major purchase, inheritance)
• Demonstrating the impact of a recommended strategy change

Market data and charting: Ycharts

Ycharts provides market data, economic indicators, and client-ready charts.

What it does:

• Real-time and historical market data on stocks, bonds, funds, and economic indicators
• Custom chart builder for quarterly commentary and client presentations
• Screening tools for dividend yields, valuations, and sector performance
• Model portfolio analytics

When you use it:

• Preparing quarterly market commentary sections
• Creating ad-hoc charts for client questions ("How has my sector performed?")
• Economic data research for investment committee discussions

Collaboration: Google Workspace

All internal communication and file management runs through Google Workspace:

• Gmail — All client and internal email
• Google Calendar — Client meetings, internal meetings, quarterly review scheduling
• Google Drive — Shared documents, templates, compliance files, client folders
• Google Meet — Virtual client meetings and internal calls

Client folders in Drive follow a strict naming convention. Never create ad-hoc client folders — use the template structure your manager shows you.

Security and access

All system credentials are managed through our identity provider. You will:

1. Set up multi-factor authentication (MFA) on every system — this is mandatory, not optional
2. Complete the security awareness training module in your first three days
3. Never share credentials, even with teammates
4. Never access client data on personal devices without VPN
5. Report any suspected phishing or credential compromise immediately to compliance

Credential mishandling is a compliance violation and may result in disciplinary action.

Key takeaways

1. Orion is the system of record for portfolios, performance, and reporting.
2. Eclipse iRebal handles trade execution and rebalancing — never use it without completing Track D training.
3. Morningstar Direct is the research platform for fund analysis and due diligence.
4. Kwanti runs financial planning simulations; Ycharts provides market data and charts.
5. Security is non-negotiable: MFA everywhere, no credential sharing, no personal device access without VPN.

Glossary

• Orion — Portfolio management and reporting platform used as Minerva's system of record for client accounts, performance, and billing.
• Eclipse iRebal — Trade execution and rebalancing tool integrated with Orion, used to maintain target allocations and execute tax-efficient trades.
• Morningstar Direct — Institutional research platform for fund analysis, portfolio analytics, and investment due diligence.
• Kwanti — Monte Carlo simulation tool for financial planning, retirement projections, and scenario analysis.
• Ycharts — Market data and charting platform used for research, quarterly commentary, and client presentations.
• MFA (Multi-Factor Authentication) — A security method requiring two or more verification steps to access a system, mandatory for all Minerva platforms.