There are several ways to send messages to clients in DarkLion. Here's a complete guide to each method.

Starting a New Thread

  1. Go to Messages (💬) in the sidebar.
  2. Click + New Thread.
  3. Search for the client by name to select them.
  4. Enter a subject for the thread.
  5. Type your message in the compose box.
  6. Click Send.

After sending, the thread status flips to Waiting (waiting for the client's response).

Replying to an Existing Thread

  1. Click the thread in the inbox.
  2. Type your reply in the box at the bottom of the thread.
  3. Click Send (or press Ctrl+Enter / Cmd+Enter).

Messaging from the CRM

You don't have to go to the Messages inbox to communicate with a client. From any Person or Company record:

  1. Open the client in the CRM.
  2. Click the Communication tab.
  3. Start a new thread or reply to existing threads directly from here.

This is the fastest way to message a client when you're already on their record.

Attaching Documents

To attach a file to a message:

  1. In the reply box, click the 📎 attachment icon.
  2. A picker shows documents already in the client's file library.
  3. Select the document to attach — it's included in the message as a link.
  4. The client sees a download link directly in the portal message.

SMS Notifications

If the client has a phone number on file, a 📱 Send as Text button appears in the reply toolbar.

  • Clicking it sends an SMS via Twilio to the client's phone number.
  • SMS is one-way notification only — client replies come back to the portal, not to your phone.
  • The SMS message should be brief ("You have a new message from Sentinel — log in to view it") since portal messages can't be read directly from SMS.

What the Client Receives

When you send a message, the client gets an email notification:

"You have a new message from Sentinel Wealth & Tax — log in to view it."

The actual message content is never included in the email. This is intentional — it keeps sensitive financial communication inside the secure portal and encourages clients to log in.

When the client replies, the thread immediately flips back to Open status and rises to the top of the staff inbox.