SKILL.md
Client Onboarding
Core Concepts
Onboarding Workflow Architecture
Client onboarding is an orchestrated, multi-stage process that transforms a prospect into a funded, investable account. The canonical stages are:
- Prospect intake — capture contact information, establish CRM record, assign advisor
- Identity verification — CIP/KYC checks (name, DOB, address, SSN/TIN, government ID)
- Suitability data collection — investment objectives, risk tolerance, time horizon, financial situation
- Account type selection — individual, joint, trust, IRA, entity, or other structure
- Document generation — assemble the required document package based on account type and features
- E-signature — execute new account forms, agreements, and disclosures electronically
- Custodian submission — transmit the completed application to the custodian for account creation
- Funding — ACH, wire, ACAT transfer, or check deposit to fund the new account
- Initial investment — assign the funded account to a model portfolio or execute the initial trade
The two primary flow models are advisor-assisted and self-service (digital-direct). In advisor-assisted onboarding, the advisor guides the client through each step, often in a meeting or screen-share, with the onboarding platform pre-populating data from the CRM. In self-service onboarding, the client completes a guided digital workflow independently, with the advisor reviewing and approving the completed application. Most firms support a hybrid model where self-service handles simple account types and advisor-assisted handles complex ones.