Bringing a new advisor into your firm is exciting—and hectic. Without a repeatable process, details slip through the cracks, compliance gets messy, and client experience suffers. Here's a checklist to make every onboarding smooth.
1. Pre-Onboarding Preparation
Before day one, gather the essentials: signed offer and agreements, background check clearance, U4/U5 filings, and technology access requests. Assign a single point of contact so the new advisor always knows who to ask.
2. Compliance and Registration
Coordinate registration with your compliance team and custodians. Confirm the advisor is properly registered in every state where they'll serve clients, and document each step in your CRM for audit readiness.
3. Client Transition Planning
If the advisor is bringing clients, map out the transition timeline: repapering, account transfers, and client communications. Set clear expectations and follow a consistent outreach schedule.
4. Systems and Training
Provide hands-on training for your CRM, portfolio management tools, and reporting systems. A structured 30/60/90-day plan keeps new hires productive and confident.
Pro Tip
Document your onboarding process once, then reuse it. A living checklist saves hours on every future hire and keeps compliance consistent.
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