Our Story

The beginnings

Redtail co-founders Brian McLaughlin and Andy Hernandez believed from the beginning that their CRM solution could satisfy an unmet need in the industry: a web-based client relationship management tool to provide advisors anytime, anywhere access to their client and calendar data.

In the early days, Brian focused on CRM and integration coding while Andy helped new users transition and import their data; at the same time, they both worked alongside Redtail’s first employee, Alison Hawkins, fielding support calls. What began in 2003 with just a small number of advisor clients is today a core financial services solution offering thousands of advisors daily assistance with running their businesses.

So, what’s with the name “Redtail”? If you’ve spent any time as a Redtail subscriber or if you follow us on any of our social media channels, you know we are a very dog-friendly company. We both encourage our staff members to bring their dogs to work with them and we participate in dog fostering opportunities with local rescue operations. This focus on our canine friends goes back to the naming of our company, where Brian and Andy looked to Brian’s trusty red-tailed Golden Retriever, Tucker-Me-Out McLaughlin, and a company name and mascot were born.

Redtail Technology + Orion

The acquisition of Redtail by Orion, announced in April 2022, poises the firms to transform the way advisors scale their businesses through technology and outsourced solutions. Redtail’s co-founder and CEO Brian McLaughlin became President, Orion Advisor Technology. McLaughlin joined both Orion’s executive team and its Board of Directors. In addition to McLaughlin, Redtail’s executive leadership team and employees continue to work out of their existing locations as part of Redtail, which became a brand entity of Orion.