Overview
The Bento Engine integration surfaces timely, relevant advice opportunities directly within Practifi as Tasks. Bento Engine scans a minimal set of contact data to identify key milestones and life events, then delivers compliance-approved content so advisors can act quickly and confidently. This is a read-only integration: Bento reads select data from Practifi and writes back Tasks. No manual syncing is required.
This article covers how Bento Alerts work, what triggers them, and how to use the content they deliver. For details on setting up the integration, see our article on Enabling the Bento Engine Integration.
- Understanding How the Integration Works
- Working With Bento Alerts
- Age-Based Alerts
- Life Event Alerts
- Using Bento Alert Content
- Customization Options
- Frequently Asked Questions
Understanding How the Integration Works
Bento Engine follows conservative data handling. Only two data points are read from Practifi: Date of Birth and State of Primary Residence. Names, account numbers, emails, and Social Security numbers never leave Practifi. Based on these data points, Bento identifies upcoming milestones and creates Tasks in Practifi, attached to the relevant Contact, Account, and primary Advisor.
| Practifi |
|
Bento Engine |
Bento reads minimal contact data from Practifi and writes back advice opportunity Tasks.
Working With Bento Alerts
Bento Alerts appear as Tasks in your standard Practifi Task list. Each alert represents an opportunity for advice tied to a specific client milestone or life event.
A Bento Alert Task includes the advice opportunity name (for example, “Medicare Enrollment” or “Catch-Up Contributions”), the relevant Contact and Account records, and links to content materials in multiple formats.
Alerts are delivered on your firm’s configured schedule (typically weekly) and arrive proactively, often months before the client reaches the relevant milestone. This lead time gives you a window to judge when to engage based on the client’s circumstances.
Age-Based Alerts
Bento automatically identifies and surfaces alerts based on contact age milestones. These are part of the “Life in Numbers” program, which covers 16 age-based milestones. The specific milestones your firm receives depend on your Bento configuration. Here are some common examples:
| Age | Advice Opportunity |
|---|---|
| 50 | Catch-Up Contributions eligibility |
| 59 1/2 | Penalty-free retirement withdrawals |
| 62 | Early Social Security eligibility |
| 65 | Medicare enrollment |
| 70 1/2 | Qualified Charitable Distributions |
| 73 | Required Minimum Distributions |
Life Event Alerts
In addition to automatic age-based alerts, you can manually trigger Life Event alerts by updating a field on a Contact record. To trigger a Life Event alert:
- Navigate to the relevant Contact record.
- Select Edit on the Contact record.
- Locate the Bento Life Events custom field.
- Select the appropriate event from the picklist (for example, Getting Married, Buying a Home, Having a Child) and move it from the Available to the Chosen list.
- Click Save.
Within 15 minutes, Bento surfaces the corresponding advice package as a new Task in your Task list.
Available Life Events include: Getting Married, Getting Divorced, Buying a Home, Selling a Home, Having a Child, Death of a Spouse, Death of a Parent, and Moving to a New State.
Using Bento Alert Content
Each Bento Alert includes links to compliance pre-approved content in multiple formats. Choose the format that best fits your client’s preferences and the situation:
| Format | Description |
|---|---|
| PowerPoint/PDF | Visual presentation for meetings or email delivery. |
| Talking Points | Suggested call framework including preparation, introduction, key points, and closing. |
| Email Template | Ready-to-send email with customizable opening and closing. |
| Advisor FAQs | Background information and common questions for advisor preparation. |
Please note: Always access content via the links in the Bento Alert Task to ensure you have the latest version. Do not save materials locally for extended periods.
Customization Options
Bento Engine is configured during onboarding to match your firm’s preferences. Customization covers two areas: the scope of alerts (who gets them and what triggers them) and how they are delivered.
Alert scope includes which advisors receive alerts, which contact types are monitored (Clients, Prospects, or both), which US states are included, which age milestones are active, how far in advance alerts arrive (lead time ranges from 2 months to 2 years), and whether a lookback period catches recently passed milestones for new users.
Alert delivery includes frequency (daily, weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, or quarterly), delivery day, Task due date timeframe, who receives the Task (typically the associated financial advisor), and delivery method (Practifi Task and/or email).
To adjust any of these settings after initial setup, contact Bento Engine support.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Data Does Bento Access From Practifi?
Only Date of Birth, State of Primary Residence, and Life Event field values. Bento does not access names, account numbers, emails, Social Security numbers, or any other personal data.
How Often Are Alerts Delivered?
Delivery frequency is configured during onboarding, with weekly delivery on Mondays as the default. Your firm can choose daily, weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, or quarterly delivery. Contact Bento Engine support to change your schedule.
Why Didn’t a Client Receive an Expected Age-Based Alert?
The most common cause is missing data. If the client’s Date of Birth or State of Primary Residence is blank on their Contact record, Bento cannot generate alerts for them. Verify these fields are populated and correct.
Can I Customize Which Milestones My Firm Receives?
Yes. During onboarding, your firm selects which age milestones and life events to activate. To change your selection after onboarding, contact Bento Engine support.
Who Do I Contact for Help With the Integration?
For questions about Bento Engine features or configuration, contact support@bentoengine.com. For questions related to Practifi (Task routing, data integrity), contact Practifi Support at support@practifi.com.
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