Onboarding is where a new client decides whether you're organized. This list covers what to deliver, collect and sign — roughly in the order it happens — with notes where RIAs and broker-dealers differ.
Dual registrants follow both columns, depending on the capacity they're acting in.
| Broker-dealer reps | Registered investment advisers | |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | Regulation Best Interest for recommendations to retail customers: disclosure, care, conflict-of-interest and compliance obligations5 | Fiduciary duty, including a reasonable inquiry into the client's financial situation, sophistication, experience and goals9 |
| Form CRS | Before or at the earliest of a recommendation, an order, or opening an account6 | Before or at the time the advisory contract is signed7 |
| Other disclosures | Reg BI disclosures before or at the time of the recommendation5 | Form ADV Part 2A brochure before or at signing; Part 2B supplement before that person starts advising8 |
| Account rules | FINRA Rules 2090 (know your customer) and 4512 (account information); customer identification program1,2,4 | Your custodian's account opening and identity checks; FinCEN's anti-money-laundering rule for advisers is delayed to January 1, 202813 |
| Privacy | Regulation S-P: a privacy notice no later than when the relationship starts; the 2024 amendments add an incident-response program and customer notice within 30 days of certain breaches (compliance dates have passed)10,11,12 | |
Sources opened and checked October 10, 2026. Rules change — follow the links for the current text.
We're a small Long Island team that builds onboarding around how your practice already works: forms clients fill in once, secure document upload, e-signature, and reminders for whatever's still missing. We host it and keep improving it — every change you ask for starts with a plan you approve.
A two-minute form about your office. A person — usually Timmy — replies within one business day. No pitch deck.