Investor Portal Guide
Overview
This guide explains how to use the Cadenora investor portal -- the secure area where you can view and download documents shared with you by your firm. The portal is designed to be simple and straightforward. You can browse your documents, manage your profile, and keep your account secure, all from one place.
Terminology Note: Depending on your firm's industry, you may see different terms throughout the portal. "Client" may appear as "Investor" or "Resident." "Project" may appear as "Development," "Property," or "Matter." The portal itself may be called "Investor Portal," "Resident Portal," or "Client Portal." These differences are cosmetic -- the features work the same way regardless of the labels.
| Your firm's industry | You are called | Your work area is called | Portal name |
|---|---|---|---|
| Financial Services | Investor | Project | Investor Portal |
| Real Estate Development | Investor | Development | Investor Portal |
| Property Management | Resident | Property | Resident Portal |
| Legal Services | Client | Matter | Client Portal |
| General / Other | Client | Project | Client Portal |
1. Getting Started
Accepting Your Invitation
Your firm will send you an email invitation to join the portal. The email contains a secure link that is unique to you. Here is what to expect:
Open the invitation email. Look for a message from your firm with a subject like "You're Invited." Click the link in the email.
Review the invitation details. You will see a page that shows:
- Who invited you (the person's name and the firm's name)
- What you have been invited to access (a specific project, development, property, or matter)
- Your access level (what permissions you will have)
- When the invitation expires
Click "Accept Invitation." This will take you to the sign-in page.
Sign in or create your account. If this is your first time, you will be asked to set up a password. If you already have an account, sign in with the email address where the invitation was sent.
Important: You must sign in with the same email address the invitation was sent to. Invitations are locked to a specific email for security reasons. If you need to use a different email address, ask your firm to send a new invitation.
Setting Up Your Password
If you are a new user, you will be directed to a password setup page after accepting your invitation:
- Enter a strong password. We recommend using a mix of uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters.
- Confirm your password by typing it a second time.
- Click "Set Password" to complete your account setup.
Once your password is set, you will be signed in automatically and taken to the portal.
Completing Your Profile
After your first sign-in, you may be asked to complete your profile. This is a short setup wizard where you can provide:
- Your type (individual or organization)
- Your category (if applicable to your firm's industry)
- Contact information (phone number, contact preference)
- Your timezone
Completing your profile helps your firm serve you better. You can always update this information later from the Profile page.
Invitation Timing
Invitations have an expiration date -- typically 7 to 14 days after they are sent. If your invitation expires before you accept it, you will see a message telling you it has expired and suggesting you contact the sender for a new one.
You may also receive reminder emails if you have not yet accepted your invitation. These are sent automatically to make sure you do not miss the opportunity.
2. Portal Dashboard
After signing in, you will land on your Dashboard. This is your home base in the portal.
What You Will See
The dashboard gives you a quick overview of everything important:
- Welcome message -- A greeting with the firm's name and a brief description of the portal.
- Shared Documents count -- The total number of documents available to you, with a link to browse them.
- Profile completion -- A percentage showing how complete your profile is, with a link to finish setting it up.
Quick Actions
Below the overview, you will find quick links to the most common tasks:
- View Shared Library -- Go directly to all documents shared with you.
- Update Profile -- Jump to your profile settings.
Getting Started Tips
If you are new, the dashboard includes a short list of tips:
- Browse the Shared Library to view documents shared by your team member (or project manager, associate, etc., depending on your firm's terminology).
- Use the search bar to find specific documents.
- Download documents for offline access.
- Keep your profile information up to date.
3. Viewing Projects
Documents in the portal are organized by projects (or developments, properties, matters -- depending on your firm's industry). You only see the projects you have been specifically granted access to.
How Access Works
Your firm controls which projects you can see. When you are invited to the portal, you are given access to one or more specific projects. You will only see documents within those projects.
Each project shows:
- Project name and description
- Status (Active, Completed, etc.)
- Your permissions -- what you are allowed to do with the documents in that project
Your Permissions
When you open a project, you will see a summary of your permissions at the top. These may include:
- View -- You can open and read documents.
- Download -- You can download documents to your device.
- Comment -- You can leave comments (if enabled by your firm).
- Export -- You can export documents (if enabled by your firm).
Your permissions are set by your firm and may vary between projects. If you need additional access, see the section on requesting an access upgrade below.
Navigating Between Projects
From the dashboard, click on any project to open its document area. Use the back button or the navigation menu to return to the dashboard and switch between projects.
4. Accessing Documents
The Shared Library
The Shared Library is where you will find all documents that have been shared with you. There are two ways documents appear here:
- Shared Library documents -- Documents published to all clients across the firm. These might include general policies, company updates, or reference materials.
- Project documents -- Documents specific to the projects you have access to.
Browsing Documents
Documents are displayed in a grid of cards. Each card shows:
- Document name (the file name)
- Description (if one was provided by your firm)
- File size (e.g., 2.3 MB)
- File type (PDF, Word document, spreadsheet, etc.)
- Category (e.g., "Tax Documents," "Legal & Compliance," "Correspondence")
- Date the document was shared
Viewing a Document
To view a document, click the View button on its card. The document will open in a new browser tab using a secure, time-limited link.
Downloading a Document
To download a document, click the Download button on its card. The file will be downloaded to your device.
Security Verification (Step-Up Authentication)
For some documents, you may be asked to verify your identity before viewing or downloading. This is an extra security measure called step-up authentication. When it appears:
- A verification prompt will open.
- Enter the code from your authenticator app (TOTP).
- Once verified, the document will open or download automatically.
This verification is required for sensitive documents and download actions. It helps protect your information.
Document Categories
Documents are organized into categories that match your firm's industry. For example:
- A financial services firm might use: Account Opening, Statements & Reports, Tax Documents, Legal & Compliance, Research & Analysis, Correspondence.
- A legal firm might use: Engagement Letters, Pleadings & Filings, Discovery, Correspondence, Billing & Invoices, Research & Memos.
When viewing project documents, you can use the tabs at the top to filter by category. Click "All Documents" to see everything, or click a specific category name to narrow down the list.
5. Search
The Shared Library includes a search bar at the top of the page. You can use it to find documents by name, description, or content.
How to Search
- Click the search field at the top of the Shared Library page.
- Type your search term (for example, a document name, keyword, or phrase).
- The document list will update automatically to show matching results.
Search Tips
- Be specific. Searching for "Q4 2025 statement" will give you better results than searching for "statement."
- Try different terms. If you do not find what you need, try synonyms or related words.
- Check your access. If you cannot find a document, it may be in a project you do not have access to. Contact your firm if you believe you should have access to a specific document.
6. Notifications
Your firm sends you email notifications to keep you informed about activity in your projects. You have full control over how and when you receive these notifications.
Types of Notifications
- Document uploaded -- When a new document is uploaded to one of your projects.
- Document shared -- When a document is explicitly shared with you.
- Invitation emails -- When you are first invited to the portal.
- Reminder emails -- If you have not accepted your invitation within 24 hours, you may receive a reminder. Your firm contact may also receive a notification at 72 hours.
- Security notifications -- Password resets, account security alerts, and MFA changes. These cannot be disabled for your protection.
Managing Your Notification Preferences
You can control your notification preferences from the Settings page. To access it, click the Bell icon (Settings) in the portal navigation or bottom navigation bar.
Global Defaults
The top section of the settings page shows your global notification preferences. For each notification type, you can choose a delivery frequency:
- Immediate -- Receive an email as soon as the event occurs (default).
- Daily Digest -- Receive one summary email per day (sent at 8:00 AM UTC).
- Weekly Digest -- Receive one summary email per week (sent Monday at 8:00 AM UTC).
- None -- Do not receive emails for this notification type.
Changes are saved automatically when you make a selection -- there is no Save button to click.
Per-Project Overrides
Below the global defaults, you will see a list of all projects you have access to. For each project, you can set a different notification frequency that overrides your global default. If you do not set a project-specific preference, the global default applies.
Click the expand arrow on any project to see its categories (e.g., Account Opening, Statements, Tax). You can set per-category overrides as well. Choose "Inherit" to fall back to the project-level or global default.
The preference cascade works as follows: category override > project override > global default > Immediate.
Security Notifications (Always On)
Password resets, account security alerts, and MFA changes are always delivered immediately. These cannot be disabled or changed to digest mode, as they are critical for your account safety.
Unsubscribing from Email Notifications
Every notification email includes an unsubscribe option:
- One-click unsubscribe -- Click the "Unsubscribe" link in any notification email. You will see a confirmation page where you can confirm the change.
- Email header unsubscribe -- Most email clients (Gmail, Outlook, Apple Mail) show an "Unsubscribe" button at the top of notification emails. Clicking it will automatically opt you out of that project's notifications.
Unsubscribing from an email disables notifications for the specific project that email was about. You can always re-enable notifications from the Settings page.
What You Need to Do
Most notifications are informational. Invitation emails require you to click the link and accept. Reminder emails are just nudges -- if you have already accepted, you can disregard them. Use the Settings page to customize your notification preferences to your liking.
7. Account Settings
Viewing Your Profile
To view your profile, click Profile in the portal navigation or use the "Update Profile" quick action on the dashboard. Your profile page shows:
- Personal information -- Your name, email address, and any title or company you have entered.
- Type and category -- Whether you are an individual or represent an organization, and your category (e.g., Limited Partner, Family Office).
- Contact preferences -- Your preferred contact method (email or phone) and timezone.
- Organization memberships -- Any organizations you belong to.
- Profile completion -- A percentage showing how much of your profile is filled out.
Editing Your Profile
Click the Edit Profile link to update your information. You can change your:
- Title and company name
- Phone number
- Contact preference (email or phone)
- Timezone
- Organization selection (if you belong to more than one)
Your email address cannot be changed from the portal -- contact your firm if you need to update it.
Organizations
If you represent a company, fund, trust, or other entity, you can manage your organization memberships from the Organizations page.
- View your organizations -- See all the organizations you belong to, along with your role (Admin or Member).
- Create a new organization -- If needed, you can register a new organization by providing its name, legal name, and type.
- Manage an organization -- If you are an organization admin, you can edit the organization details and invite colleagues.
Inviting Colleagues
If you are an organization admin (ORG_ADMIN), you can invite colleagues from your organization to the portal:
- Open your organization from the Organizations page.
- Click Invite Colleague and enter their email address.
- The colleague must use an email address that matches your organization's domain.
- Daily invitation limits may apply.
Your colleague will receive an invitation email and can follow the same getting-started process described in this guide.
Session Timeout
Your portal session has an inactivity timeout configured by your firm (typically between 30 minutes and 4 hours). If your session times out due to inactivity, you will be redirected to the sign-in page. Simply sign in again to continue -- no data is lost. Documents you were viewing or downloads you had already completed are not affected by a session timeout.
Changing Your Password
To change your password, use the password reset flow:
- Go to the sign-in page.
- Click Forgot Password.
- Enter your email address.
- Check your email for a reset link.
- Follow the link to set a new password.
8. Frequently Asked Questions
Q: I received an invitation but it says "Invalid Invitation" when I click the link. A: This usually means the invitation link was not copied correctly from the email. Try clicking the link directly in the email rather than copying and pasting it. If the issue persists, contact the person who invited you and ask for a new invitation.
Q: Can I upload documents to the portal? A: No. The client portal is read-only. Only your firm's team can upload and manage documents. If you need to share a document with your firm, contact them directly.
Q: I can see a project but there are no documents in it. A: The project may be newly created and your firm has not yet shared documents with you. Check back later, or contact your firm to ask when documents will be available.
Q: Can I access the portal from my phone? A: Yes. The portal works in any modern web browser on desktop, tablet, or mobile. There is no separate mobile app -- just open your browser and go to the portal URL.
Q: What happens if I forget my password? A: Click "Forgot Password" on the sign-in page and follow the instructions to reset it via email.
Q: Why does the portal look different from what my colleague described? A: The portal's appearance and terminology change based on the firm's industry. A financial services firm's portal will look and feel different from a law firm's portal. The underlying features are the same.
Q: Can I share a document link with someone outside the portal? A: No. Document links are secured and require authentication. They also expire after a short time. Only people who have been invited to the portal and given access to the relevant project can view documents.
Q: I am part of an organization. Does my organization see the same documents I do? A: Organization members generally share access to the same projects and documents. However, some documents may be restricted to specific individuals even within an organization. Your firm controls these access settings.
Q: How long are documents available? A: Documents remain available as long as your firm keeps them published. Your firm may have retention policies that affect document availability over time. If a document you previously accessed is no longer visible, contact your firm.
Q: Why was I asked to verify my identity when downloading? A: This is a security feature called step-up authentication. It requires you to confirm your identity using a verification code before accessing sensitive documents. This protects you and the firm in case someone else gains access to your browser session.
9. AI-Powered Features in the Portal
Your firm may use AI-powered features to organize and manage documents. Here is how these features affect your experience in the portal.
Document Organization
Your firm's team may use AI to automatically categorize documents when they are uploaded. This means documents are organized into categories (such as "Tax Documents," "Legal & Compliance," or "Correspondence") more quickly and consistently. You benefit from better-organized document libraries without needing to take any action yourself.
Search
When you search for documents in the portal, your search works the same way regardless of whether your firm has AI features enabled. You can search by document name, content keywords, or use the category filters to narrow results. If your firm has enabled natural language search on their side, any improvements to search accuracy benefit the entire platform, including the documents you see in the portal.
What AI Does Not Change
- Your access and permissions are unchanged. AI features do not affect which documents you can see. Your access is controlled entirely by your firm's team through the invitation and permission system described in this guide.
- You do not interact with AI directly. The AI features (document classification, workspace assistant, project summaries) are available to your firm's team in their workspace. The portal does not currently include direct AI features such as a chat assistant.
- Document content is not altered. AI analyzes documents for categorization and search purposes but never modifies the original files.
Questions About AI
If you have questions about how your firm uses AI features or have concerns about document processing, contact your firm's administrator directly.
10. Troubleshooting
I cannot sign in
- Check your email address. Make sure you are using the exact email address where you received the invitation. The portal will not let you sign in with a different email.
- Check your password. If you have forgotten your password, click "Forgot Password" on the sign-in page.
- Check for typos. Email addresses are case-sensitive in some cases. Make sure there are no extra spaces.
- Clear your browser cache. Sometimes old session data can cause sign-in issues. Clear your browser's cookies and cache, then try again.
I cannot see any documents
- Check the Shared Library. Make sure you are on the Shared Library page, not just the dashboard.
- Check your project access. You can only see documents in projects you have been given access to. If you expected to see a particular project, contact your firm.
- Documents may not be published yet. Your firm may not have shared any documents with you yet. Contact your firm to ask.
My invitation link does not work
- Check if it has expired. Project invitations expire after 14 days. Organization invitations expire after 7 days. If your invitation has expired, the page will tell you and suggest contacting the sender for a new one.
- Check if you already accepted it. If you already accepted the invitation, the link will show a message saying it has already been used. Go directly to the portal dashboard to sign in.
- Copy the full link. If you copied the link from the email, make sure you got the entire URL. Some email clients may break long links across multiple lines.
My invitation has expired
Invitations expire after a set number of days (typically 7 to 14 days). If your invitation has expired:
- Contact the person who invited you (their name is shown on the expired invitation page).
- Ask them to send you a new invitation.
- Accept the new invitation promptly to avoid another expiry.
I am asked for a verification code but have not set one up
Step-up authentication uses a time-based one-time password (TOTP) from an authenticator app. If you have not set up an authenticator app, contact your firm's administrator for assistance.
I lost access to my authenticator app
If you have lost your phone or can no longer access your authenticator app (Google Authenticator, Authy, etc.), contact your firm's administrator. They can reset your MFA enrollment through a support session, which will allow you to set up a new authenticator. In the meantime, you can still browse non-restricted documents that do not require step-up authentication -- only certain sensitive operations require MFA verification.
Documents are not downloading
- Check your browser settings. Make sure your browser is not blocking downloads or pop-ups. Document links open in a new tab.
- Try a different browser. If one browser is not working, try another (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge all work).
- Check your internet connection. Downloads require a stable internet connection. If your connection is slow or intermittent, try again when it is more stable.
- Wait a moment and retry. Download links are time-limited (they expire after about 5 minutes). If you waited too long before clicking, go back to the document and click Download again.
I see "Unauthorized" or "Access Denied"
- You may not have access to this area. The portal only shows you content you have been specifically granted access to. If you need access to something new, contact your firm.
- Your session may have expired. Try signing in again.
- You may be using the wrong URL. Make sure you are using the portal URL your firm provided. Do not modify the URL manually.
Something else is not working
If you encounter an issue not covered here, contact your firm's administrator. They can check your account status, resend invitations, adjust your access, or escalate technical issues as needed.
This guide covers the Cadenora client portal for Financial Services and Real Estate Development firms as of version 8.3.1 (February 23, 2026). For the client-focused guide (Legal Services, General), see docs/guides/client-guide.md. For the resident-focused guide (Property Management), see docs/guides/resident-guide.md. For technical documentation, see docs/architecture/CADENORA_ARCHITECTURE_V8.6.md. For document visibility details, see docs/core/document-visibility-model.md.