Connected vs Seated: Choosing the Right Relationship

Policy Stack offers two ways to link a client to your practice: connecting and seating. Understanding when to use each helps you manage costs while giving clients the access they need.

Side-by-Side Comparison

| Aspect | Connected | Seated | |--------|-----------|--------| | Cost to you | Free | Uses one of your plan seats ($5/mo overflow) | | Client subscription | Client manages their own (Starter or Builder Pro) | Builder Pro included — you cover it | | Data visibility | Read-only access to their banking system | Full access | | Who enters data | Client enters their own data | Either client or you | | Client sees | Your name as their advisor | Your name + full Builder Pro features | | Uses a seat | No | Yes |

When to Connect

Connect is the right choice when:

• The client already has their own Builder Pro subscription
• You want client-controlled visibility into their banking system without covering their subscription cost
• The client is in early stages and you want to establish the relationship before committing a seat
• You are managing costs and want to reserve seats for your most active clients

When to Seat

Seat is the right choice when:

• The client does not have a paid subscription and you want them to have full Builder Pro access
• You want to be able to enter and manage data on the client's behalf
• The client is a core part of your practice and full data access is essential to your advisory relationship

Upgrading from Connected to Seated

You can upgrade a connected client to a seated client at any time from their profile page. Click the three-dot menu and select "Upgrade to Seat." The client keeps their existing data — their account is upgraded to Builder Pro and linked to your practice billing.

Mixed Strategies

Many advisors use a mix of both. A common approach:

• Seat your core clients (those you actively advise and review annually)
• Connect clients who manage their own data and only need periodic check-ins
• Start with a connection for new clients and upgrade to a seat when the relationship deepens