I find the inability to select your browser and O/S troubling, but not fatally so. The last time I checked, IE's market share had dropped to under 60%, which indicates to me that many people prefer to use a browser other than Internet Explorer. Software for advisors launching in this day and age should be browser-neutral; Brochure Architect is not.
Web-based software targeting advisors these days should also support other operating systems such as the Mac O/S, Androids, etc. Brochure Architect does not. Did it not occur to the developers that advisors might want to access their brochure on a MacBook Pro, an iPad or an Android Tablet? I suspect many advisors will want to access and update their brochures through these devices. Currently, Brochure Architect does not allow for this.
Another annoyance: Each subsequent time I logged on to the site, a pop-up appeared prompting me to do the compatibility test again. I suspect this happened because my security settings do not allow third parties to store cookies on my machine. A fatal flaw? No, just an annoying one.
Bottom Line
I like the NRS approach to dealing with ADV Part 2. The new Brochure Architect wizard makes creating a customized form relatively painless, and it is backed by a firm with years of compliance experience. In addition, NRS has trained consultants who can help you out if necessary for an additional fee.
On the other hand, I'm mildly disappointed because I think better programming could have yielded a significantly better product, one that included context-sensitive help and support for multiple browsers and operating systems.
The good news for NRS is that the need to create, update and maintain the new Form ADV Part 2 will be with us for years to come and that Brochure Architect is a 1.0 version that they can improve over time. Given the firm's good reputation in the field, I trust that they will continue to refine Brochure Architect. For now, Brochure Architect is a decent choice for those who need help creating and maintaining their ADV Part 2; however, with a little bit of refinement, it can become a much better one.