Traditional vs Digital FMS: Which Is the Right Choice for You in the Self-Determination Program (SDP)?

Choosing the right Financial Management Services (FMS) provider is one of the most important decisions you’ll make in your Self-Determination Program (SDP) journey. While most families are familiar FMS, a new generation of digital FMS providers is changing what’s possible. Understanding the difference can mean the difference between struggling to use your budget—or fully maximizing it with a leading FMS provider in California.

Why Accura FMS Was Founded

Accura FMS was born out of a deeply personal experience.

The founders were parents looking for a Financial Management Services provider for their son under California’s Self-Determination Program. What they found instead was a system that felt decades behind the times. Most traditional FMS providers relied almost entirely on manual processes, paper forms, and delayed reporting.

There was no reliable way to track how much of the participant’s budget had been spent and how much was remaining. Imagine putting your money into a bank account and having no way to see your balance until weeks later. That was the reality for many SDP families before finding a modern FMS provider.

Monthly statements were sent via email—or even USPS. Vendor payments took months. Spending plan revisions dragged on endlessly. Phone calls went unanswered, with families waiting on hold for hours with no resolution.

Accura FMS was created to fix these exact problems using technology.

What Is a Traditional FMS?

A traditional FMS typically operates with:

• Manual or paper-heavy workflows

• Monthly budget statements instead of real-time visibility

• Vendor onboarding that takes weeks

• Vendor payments that can take months

• Limited or no client portal

• Phone-based support with long wait times

For many families, this leads to:

• Confusion about remaining funds

• Underutilized budgets

• Strained vendor relationships

• Significant time spent managing spreadsheets and statements

Historically, clients using traditional FMS models often utilized only 60–70% of their approved SDP budget—not because funds weren’t needed, but because the system made it too hard to manage and move money efficiently.

What Is a Digital FMS?

A digital FMS uses modern technology to automate, streamline, and bring transparency to every part of the SDP experience.

Accura FMS reimagined the entire model.

Instead of waiting for monthly statements, clients have access to real-time tracking and interactive dashboards that show:

• Exactly how much has been spent

• Exactly how much remains

• How funds are allocated across service categories

This visibility alone has transformed outcomes. With Accura’s modern platform, spending plan utilization consistently exceeds 95%, allowing families to truly benefit from the funds allocated to them.

Budget Tracking: Monthly Statements vs Real-Time Dashboards

Traditional FMS

• Monthly or delayed statements

• No live visibility

• Difficult to reallocate funds

• High risk of unused budget

Digital FMS (Accura)

• Live dashboards updated in real time

• Immediate visibility into spending

• Easy fund movement across service categories

• Confident decision-making

Families no longer need spreadsheets, guesswork, or follow-up emails. Everything is visible in one place.

Vendor Payments: Months vs Days

One of the biggest pain points in traditional FMS models is vendor payments.

Traditional FMS

• Invoices processed manually

• Payments delayed for weeks or months

• Vendors hesitant to participate in SDP

Accura FMS

• Vendors are paid within a week

• Support for virtual cards and credit card payments

• Clients can request and load virtual cards in hours, not months

This has completely changed vendor relationships. Vendors are now more willing to work with SDP participants, and clients can access a wider range of services without friction.

Vendor Onboarding: Weeks vs One Business Day

Vendor onboarding used to be one of the most frustrating parts of SDP.

Traditional FMS

• Paper packets

• Back-and-forth emails

• Weeks to onboard a single vendor

Accura FMS

• Fully digital vendor onboarding portal

• Vendors submit documents in minutes

• Vendors onboarded within one business day

• Real-time invoice status tracking

Instead of clients chasing the FMS and vendors chasing clients, everyone operates from the same system—with full transparency.

Employee Onboarding & Time Tracking: Paperwork vs Mobile Apps

Hiring employees under SDP traditionally meant piles of paperwork and long delays.

Traditional FMS

• Manual onboarding

• Physical forms

• Delayed payroll visibility

Accura FMS

• Fully digital employee onboarding

• Mobile-friendly portals

• Employees complete onboarding in minutes

• Modern Electronic Visit Verification (EVV) apps

• Clients and employees can see every timesheet and fund deduction

This creates trust, clarity, and accountability for everyone involved.

Time Saved: Hours vs Minutes

Many families using traditional FMS models spend hours every week managing:

• Spreadsheets

• Statements

• Emails

• Follow-ups

With Accura FMS, clients often spend just minutes managing their SDP funds. Everything is centralized, automated, and easy to understand.

So… Which FMS Is Right for You?

Traditional FMS:

• Limited visibility

• Delayed payments

• Paper-heavy processes

• Underutilized budgets

  
  

A traditional FMS may feel familiar, but it comes with trade-offs.

If you want:

• Real-time budget tracking

• Faster vendor payments

• Digital onboarding

• Higher spending plan utilization

• Less administrative burden

A digital FMS like Accura is likely the better fit.

How Accura FMS Helps SDP Families Succeed

As an FMS provider in California, Accura FMS was built to help families fully utilize their Self-Determination Program funds, not struggle with them. By combining deep SDP expertise with modern technology, Accura empowers families to focus on what truly matters: supporting their loved ones.

If you’re considering a move to a modern, transparent, and client-first FMS, Accura FMS is here to help. Book a consultation with us today to get your FMS journey started.