Why the personal details matter in advice
Clients rarely leave over a quarter’s returns. They leave when they feel like an account number. The details that make a review meeting feel personal (a new grandchild, a parent’s health, the cabin they want to buy) are easy to hear and easy to forget by the next meeting. BlackBook keeps those details with the person, so you can open the next conversation with something that shows you were listening.
What BlackBook does for an advisor
| You want to… | In BlackBook |
|---|---|
| Remember what matters to each client | Notes and conversation history for each person |
| Follow up when you said you would | Follow-up reminders, so “let’s talk after tax season” actually happens |
| Know who to call this week | Pulse turns your notes, history and reminders into a suggested next step |
| Never miss a birthday | Birthday reminders with the personal details you saved |
| Keep referral sources warm | The same notes and reminders for CPAs, attorneys and centers of influence |
| Keep your own notes private | No account; data stays on your iPhone and private iCloud; no ad SDKs, never sold |
A 10-minute weekly routine
- Add your top relationships first: key clients, prospects you’re nurturing, and your best referral sources.
- After each meeting, add one personal note: what’s going on in their life and anything you promised.
- Set a follow-up reminder for the next natural check-in.
- Each Monday, open Pulse and work the list it suggests.
- Before each review, reread your notes so you open with the person, not the performance.
For more on follow-ups, read how to keep in touch with people and how to follow through on the promises you make.
An honest note on compliance
Advisors work under recordkeeping and privacy rules, and many firms limit which apps can hold client information. BlackBook is not a compliance, archiving or books-and-records system, and it doesn’t replace the CRM your firm requires. Check your firm’s policies first, keep only personal relationship notes in it, and never store account numbers or other sensitive financial details. If you need shared client records, reporting or archiving, use a wealth-management CRM built for that.
BlackBook facts
- Platform: iPhone, iOS 17.6 or later
- Price: free download; optional BlackBook Pro subscription (prices shown in the app)
- Free plan: 25 people, 2 notes per person, 30 days of interaction history
- Pro: unlimited people and full history, VIP reminders and insights, relationship notes with tags, duplicate detection, BlackBook AI
- AI: on-device via Apple Intelligence (Pro, iOS 26, compatible iPhone)
- Privacy: data on your device and private iCloud, no account, no ad SDKs, data never sold
- Developer: Preston Earnest / Earnestly Studios LLC
Frequently asked questions
Does BlackBook replace my firm’s CRM?
No. BlackBook is a personal CRM for one person on one iPhone. It has no account data, portfolio tracking, team sharing, archiving or compliance features. Use it, if your firm allows, for personal relationship reminders alongside the systems your firm requires.
Is BlackBook a compliance or recordkeeping tool?
No. BlackBook is not a compliance, archiving or books-and-records system. Check your firm’s policies before keeping any client information in a personal app, and never store account numbers or other sensitive financial details in it.
Do I need an account?
No. BlackBook needs no account, sign-up or login. Your people and notes stay on your iPhone and in your private iCloud.
Is it free?
BlackBook is free to download with a free plan of 25 people, two notes per person and 30 days of interaction history. BlackBook Pro is an optional subscription for unlimited people and full history; prices are shown in the app.
Can I dictate notes after a call?
With BlackBook Pro on iOS 26 and a compatible iPhone, BlackBook AI uses on-device Apple Intelligence to help turn a quick spoken recap into a follow-up for you to review.
Does it sell my data or show ads?
No. BlackBook includes no advertising SDKs and never sells your data.
Be the advisor clients feel known by.
BlackBook is free to download for iPhone (iOS 17.6+). Start with 25 people, no account needed.
Get BlackBook – Personal CRM