In the WealthTech Talks interview series, we interview senior executives from leading wealth management firms, solution providers, and WealthTech influencers to learn more about them, their journeys, their perspectives on the market, and how they see the future of wealth management.
For this issue of WealthTech Talks, we caught up with Anneke Stender, Executive Vice President of Plumb Bill Pay, a premier bill pay and family office accounting provider transforming how high-net-worth families and their advisers manage financial life. With nearly 30 years in operation and a proprietary technology platform, Plumb Bill Pay has become a trusted partner to wealth advisers, family offices, private banks, and multi-generational families across the United States.
In this interview, Stender shared insights into the growing complexity of financial administration for affluent households and the increasing demand for secure, tech-enabled solutions. She also discussed the industry’s shift toward integrated reporting, automation, and adviser-centric support models.
Could you provide a brief introduction to your business?
Plumb Bill Pay was founded in 1996, originally as an outsourced accounting firm focused on delivering fractional controller-level services to small and mid-sized companies. As we supported CEOs through different stages of their business lifecycles, we uncovered a consistent challenge: once they sold their companies or moved into retirement, they no longer had the corporate accounting support they depended on for daily financial management. Without a controller or accounting team, routine tasks — bill management, reconciliations, financial organisation — quickly became overwhelming.
Recognising this need, we established a dedicated bill pay and family office division designed to bring the same level of structure, clarity, and oversight these individuals once had in their businesses. Over nearly three decades, that division has grown into the Plumb Bill Pay of today: a nationally-trusted provider offering white-glove service paired with proprietary technology to simplify financial life, streamline cash flow, and support advisers.
While our roots are in corporate accounting, our mission has always been to create order, insight, and confidence in complex financial lives. That founding philosophy continues to guide the way we support families, wealth advisers, private banks, and family offices across the country.
In the wealth management sector, what types of clients do you primarily work with and target?
We primarily serve HNW and UHNW individuals and families, multi-family offices, and independent RIAs supporting clients with intricate financial footprints. Many of our clients manage multiple entities — trusts, partnerships, investment LLCs, and private foundations — and require consolidated reporting, secure workflows, and meticulous oversight.
We also support wealth advisers who want to offer a differentiated, value-added experience without building an in-house bill pay or accounting team. Our clients are located across the United States, with advisers often serving nationally and globally.
Why do your existing and target clients choose to work with you? What makes your solutions relevant and distinct from your competitors?
Our clients choose Plumb because we blend high-touch service with sophisticated technology designed specifically for the needs of affluent families. The Plumb Bill Pay App provides secure bill approvals, interactive dashboards, and cash-flow forecasting while our US-based accounting team delivers expert reconciliation, oversight, and personalised support.
Three things truly set us apart:
- Security and trust
We operate with bank-level security, SOC 2 compliance, and rigorous internal controls—critical for advisers and families managing sensitive financial information. - Industry expertise
Our dedicated accounting managers and bill pay specialists understand the complexities of multi-entity structures, investment activity, household employees, philanthropy, and private banking relationships. - Adviser-centric approach
We partner seamlessly with RIAs, family offices, and private banks, acting as an extension of their teams. Our reporting and workflows enhance their client relationships rather than compete with them.
What's next for your business? Can you share the firm's current focus and future plans, such as product development, market expansion, and strategic goals?
Our focus is continued innovation of the Plumb Bill Pay app and expansion of our adviser-support ecosystem. In the coming year, we’re investing in:
- AI-driven categorisation to accelerate data accuracy.
- Predictive cash-flow forecasting to empower better advisory conversations.
- Interactive financial dashboards for real-time visibility across entities.
- A refined onboarding experience with guided client setup and automated document collection.
- Expanded white-label capabilities for RIAs and family offices who want to extend our technology and service under their brand.
We’re also continuing to scale our team and partnerships, ensuring our service model remains exceptionally personal as demand grows.
Based on your experience in the wealth management sector, what key opportunities and challenges do you foresee for firms today and in the next three years?
Opportunities
- Operational efficiency through smart automation — Firms that adopt secure, integrated technologies can spend more time advising and less time reconciling.
- Holistic client experiences — Clients increasingly expect visibility into all aspects of their financial life, not just investments.
- Boutique-style advisory differentiation — Advisers offering operational support such as bill pay, accounting coordination, or financial organisation will strengthen client loyalty.
Challenges
- Data fragmentation across platforms — With more entities, accounts, and documents than ever, synthesising data into a clear picture remains a major hurdle.
- Talent pressure — Skilled back-office and financial operations talent is harder to recruit and retain.
- Rising security expectations — Clients expect bank-grade protection across every interaction, requiring significant investment and expertise. The firms that thrive will be those that embrace technology while maintaining a human, high-touch advisory philosophy.
About Plumb Bill Pay
Plumb Bill Pay is a premier bill pay and family office accounting provider serving high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth families, family offices, wealth advisers, and private banks. Founded in 1996, Plumb delivers secure, technology-enhanced financial administration with a white-glove service model. Through the proprietary Plumb Bill Pay App and a dedicated US-based accounting team, clients gain clarity, organisation, and real-time visibility into their financial world.
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About the WealthTech Talks Interview Series
In the WealthTech Talks interview series, we interview senior executives from leading wealth management firms, solution providers, and WealthTech influencers to learn more about them, their journey, their perspectives on the market, and how they see the future of wealth management.
Read the latest editions in the series below!
- Fredrik Davéus, CEO of Kidbrooke - click here to read the interview
- Steve Elliot, Managing Director of LexisNexis Risk Solutions Financial Services and Businesses - click here to read the interview
