Boston, MA – May 7, 2026 – Appleton Partners, Inc., a prominent Boston-based Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) with $12.5 billion in client assets under management, has officially adopted Mili, an advanced artificial intelligence platform, to revolutionize its private client workflows. The decision comes after a rigorous evaluation of multiple AI solutions, with Mili ultimately being chosen for its robust integration capabilities with Salesforce and its proven efficacy in automating critical tasks across the wealth management spectrum. This strategic move underscores Appleton Partners’ commitment to leveraging cutting-edge technology to enhance client service, improve operational efficiency, and empower its advisors.
Founded in 1986 and operating as a 100% employee-owned firm, Appleton Partners has a long-standing reputation for disciplined investment management and a client-centric approach. The firm’s proactive adoption of AI reflects a broader trend within the financial services industry, where firms are increasingly seeking technological solutions to navigate complex market dynamics, meet evolving client expectations, and address the growing administrative burden on advisors. Mili’s specialization in wealth management workflows, including meeting documentation, client follow-ups, CRM updates, and meeting preparation, directly addresses these industry challenges.
The integration of Mili into Appleton Partners’ operational framework is designed to significantly reduce the time advisors spend on non-client-facing administrative tasks. Previously, advisors would dedicate a substantial portion of their day, often 30 to 40 minutes per client meeting, to manual note-taking, data entry into Salesforce, and drafting follow-up emails. This manual process not only consumed valuable time but also introduced potential for data inconsistencies and delays in client communication. With Mili, this workflow is streamlined into a matter of minutes, allowing advisors to dedicate more time to high-value activities such as strategic client conversations, portfolio planning, and business development.
Punit Shetty, CTO, SVP, and Managing Director of Operations at Appleton Partners, highlighted the transformative impact of Mili on the firm’s daily operations. "Before Mili, our advisors would finish a client meeting and spend the next thirty to forty minutes writing up notes, entering data into Salesforce, and drafting a recap email," Shetty explained. "Now that workflow is compressed into a few minutes of review. The time we are getting back is going directly into client conversations and planning work." This tangible shift in time allocation is expected to lead to enhanced advisor productivity and, consequently, a more personalized and responsive client experience.
Douglas C. Chamberlain, CFA, President and CEO of Appleton Partners, emphasized the firm’s deliberate approach to technology adoption, drawing a parallel to their investment philosophy. "We manage portfolios with the same discipline we apply to selecting technology," Chamberlain stated. "We need tools that integrate into how we already work, protect client data, and deliver measurable returns on the time our team invests in them. Mili met that bar." This statement underscores Appleton Partners’ focus on practical, value-driven technology solutions that align with their existing operational infrastructure and deliver demonstrable benefits. The firm’s commitment to data security and client privacy is paramount, and Mili’s compliance with industry standards, including SOC 2 certification and a privacy-first approach without recordings or bots, was a critical factor in the selection process.
The collaborative relationship between Appleton Partners and Mili extends beyond the initial deployment. The two organizations are actively working together to expand Mili’s capabilities into new areas, including client onboarding, document analysis, and prospect research workflows. This forward-looking strategy suggests a commitment to continuously optimizing the advisor experience and client engagement through AI-powered innovation.
Chirag Gandhi, Co-Founder and CEO of Mili, commented on the strategic alignment with Appleton Partners. "The firms we work with are not buying AI because it is new. They are buying it because their advisors are spending half their day on tasks that do not require human judgment," Gandhi articulated. "Appleton saw that clearly. They wanted a platform that could sit across their tech stack and turn every client interaction into structured data and completed follow-through. That is what Mili does." Gandhi’s statement reinforces Mili’s value proposition as a seamless integration solution designed to transform raw client interaction data into actionable insights and automated follow-up processes.
Background and Context of AI Adoption in Wealth Management
The wealth management industry has been undergoing a significant digital transformation, with AI emerging as a pivotal technology. For years, advisors have grappled with the dual pressures of increasing regulatory scrutiny, evolving client expectations for personalized service, and the relentless pursuit of operational efficiency. The administrative burden associated with client management, compliance, and data processing has often detracted from an advisor’s ability to focus on building client relationships and providing strategic financial advice.
AI platforms like Mili offer a solution by automating repetitive, time-consuming tasks. This not only frees up advisor time but also improves data accuracy, ensures consistent client communication, and provides valuable insights derived from client interactions. The demand for such solutions is projected to grow substantially. Industry reports suggest that AI adoption in wealth management could lead to significant cost savings and revenue enhancements for firms that effectively implement these technologies. For instance, a report by Celent in 2023 estimated that AI could automate up to 40% of back-office tasks in wealth management, leading to substantial efficiency gains.
The integration with Salesforce, a leading CRM platform in the financial services sector, is a key differentiator for Mili. This deep integration ensures that data captured and processed by Mili flows seamlessly into the existing CRM, providing a unified view of the client and enhancing the overall effectiveness of client relationship management. For a firm like Appleton Partners, which has built its operations around robust systems, this level of integration is crucial for minimizing disruption and maximizing the benefits of new technology.
About Appleton Partners, Inc.
Appleton Partners, Inc. is an SEC-registered investment advisor established in 1986 and headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts. As a 100% employee-owned firm, it fosters a culture of shared commitment and long-term vision. The firm manages $12.5 billion in client assets, offering customized separate account portfolios tailored to the needs of high-net-worth individuals, families, institutions, and nonprofit organizations. Appleton Partners is dedicated to providing disciplined investment management and comprehensive financial planning services. Further information can be found at www.appletonpartners.com.
About Mili
Mili is a specialized AI platform designed to automate workflows for wealth management firms. Its suite of AI agents handles a wide range of tasks, including meeting management, client onboarding, prospect research, data management, document analysis, scheduling, and compliance. Mili’s platform is engineered for seamless integration with major CRMs, financial planning tools, portfolio management systems, and custodians. The company emphasizes its commitment to data security and privacy, holding SOC 2 certification and operating under a privacy-first model that does not involve recordings or bots. Mili currently serves RIAs and broker-dealers managing over $250 billion in client assets. More details are available at www.getmili.ai.
The adoption of Mili by Appleton Partners marks a significant step in the firm’s ongoing commitment to technological innovation and operational excellence. By strategically integrating AI into its core wealth management processes, Appleton Partners is poised to enhance advisor productivity, deepen client relationships, and further solidify its position as a leader in the independent wealth management space. The ongoing collaboration between Appleton Partners and Mili to extend the platform’s capabilities signals a promising future for AI-driven efficiency and client-centricity in the financial advisory sector.