4ms (~Forms) Digital Account Opening
Digital Account Opening, Elevated
Our digital account opening module streamlines onboarding for CIRO, FINRA, and SEC-regulated firms—eliminating paperwork to accelerate account funding and elevate client and advisor satisfaction.
New Account Application
One Platform
Seamless Account Opening and Advisor Transitions
Multi-Custodian Architecture
Standardize account opening across multiple custodians through a single interface, pre-configured with custodian-specific rules, platforms, and fee structures.
Context-Driven Onboarding
Eliminate redundant data entry with adaptive workflows that automatically surface relevant fields for trusts, entities, non-residents, CRS/FATCA tax residency and specialized contacts. In addition, clients complete it in English, French or Spanish.
Integrated Risk & KYC
Establish a single source of truth from day one by capturing risk profiles, KYC data, and fund fact sheets directly into the core client record.
Comprehensive Registered Plan Support
Ensure regulatory compliance across all registered plan types (and locked-in accounts) with automated limit calculations and pension law alignment.
End-to-End Envelope Management
Gain complete transparency over document workflows with live tracking for e-signatures, approvals, and account activation.
Accelerated Book Transitions
Execute large-scale advisor book migrations efficiently via structured, compliance-first workflows that minimize disruption and speed up time-to-value.
Intuitive Workflow Automation
Digital Account Opening for Wealth Management Firms
Six guided steps take a new client from first details to approved account — with automated compliance checks and secure data synchronization at every stage.
Step 1
Platform
Custodian, platform and account types set up front, with fees and billing configured.
Step 2
Account Holder
Adaptive details for individual, joint, entity and trust accounts.
Step 3
Risk & KYC
Risk tolerance, KYC and fund fact sheets captured once.
Step 4
Banking
Banking and EFT details validated before submission.
Step 5
Regulatory
Identity verification using FINTRAC methods in Canada and CIP under the USA PATRIOT Act in the US, plus PEP and insider checks, source of funds and CRS/FATCA tax self-certification in one flow.
Step 6
Sign & Approve
E-signature, then supervisor approval with a full audit trail.
Minutes vs Days
Fund Accounts Faster
Open new accounts in minutes instead of days. Because automated workflows take administration off advisors’ plates, they can focus on high-value advisory work.
Open accounts in minutes
No paper forms
Automated workflows
- Client details pre-filled10:02
- KYC captured10:09
- All fields validated, no NIGO10:18
- E-signed by client and advisor10:26
- Submitted for approval10:30
Reduce Not In Good Order (NIGO)
Validate Data Before It’s Submitted
Bi-directional data synchronization pre-fills digital forms with accurate information and validates every field before submission — so accounts arrive in good order.
Pre-filled from existing records
Validation before submission
Fewer NIGO returns
Eliminate Manual Bottlenecks
Integrated Compliance Approval
Compliance approval is built into every account opening, with real-time checks and automated routing that remove manual bottlenecks.
Real-time compliance checks
Automated principal routing
Complete digital audit trail
- 10:30Submitted by advisor
- 10:30Compliance checks passed
- 10:31Routed to supervising principal
- 10:52Approved by Sarah Chen
Frequently Asked Questions
Digital Account Opening Workflows
What is 4ms digital account opening?
4ms (pronounced “forms”) is Four Eyes Financial’s digital account opening module for wealth management firms. It replaces paper processes with a guided workflow that captures client data, verifies identity, sets up accounts, gathers e-signatures and manages supervisory approval, taking each client from first contact to custodian account opening and funding in a single system.
How does 4ms verify client identity in person and remotely?
In Canada, 4ms verifies client identity using FINTRAC’s prescribed methods: government-issued photo ID for in-person meetings, or the dual-process and credit-file methods for remote clients. In addition, Bank ID checks add a further layer of verification where a custodian requires it, and entity accounts get tailored verification questions. In the United States, 4ms supports the Customer Identification Program (CIP) under the USA PATRIOT Act, capturing and verifying each client’s name, date of birth, address and Social Security number.
Does 4ms support US accounts?
Yes. 4ms supports US account opening, including the Customer Identification Program (CIP) under the USA PATRIOT Act, Social Security numbers, ZIP code validation, cash, margin and IRA accounts, and IRA and 401(k) rollovers. Your custodian’s account types and rules are configured during implementation.
How are CRS and FATCA tax self-certifications captured and managed during onboarding within 4ms?
4ms captures each account holder’s tax residency and CRS/FATCA self-certification as part of onboarding, with dedicated fields for non-residents, entities, beneficial owners and trust beneficiaries, so tax status is documented before the package reaches signature.
How does 4ms handle multiple custodians?
4ms runs account opening for multiple custodians through one interface. Because each custodian’s account types, platforms, currencies, limits and verification rules are held in configuration, advisors only see the options that apply to the custodian they are opening with.
What supervisory workflows and review queues govern new account approvals?
New accounts go to a unified compliance queue where supervisors review, approve or return each account package from one dashboard. Returning a package requires written feedback. In addition, every submission, query and final decision is logged in the package’s permanent, timestamped review trail. Exceptions that need follow-up after approval can be routed into Case Management.
How does 4ms track e-signatures?
4ms sends each account package as a single envelope through DocuSign, DocuSeal or your preferred e-signature provider, and tracks it through every stage: Sent for Signatures, Waiting on Additional Signers and Signatures Complete. Package contents lock when the envelope is sent. As a result, any resubmission generates a new, version-controlled envelope.
How does 4ms support bulk advisor book transitions?
4ms moves whole advisor books through one structured process. Firms upload client and account data using standard individual and entity templates, and every record is validated before import. As a result, errors are flagged and corrected before anything reaches the custodian. See Bulk Transitions.
Can clients open accounts in French or Spanish?
Yes. Clients complete the full account-opening flow in English, French or Spanish, including client forms and e-signature packages (regulatory forms such as FINTRAC and CRA forms are provided in English and French), and advisors, associates, supervisors and analysts can each choose to work in English, French or Spanish within the platform.
Beyond Account Opening
Keep Every Client Record Current
The client relationship doesn’t end at account opening. That’s why materiality-based KYC reviews ask for a quick attestation when nothing has changed and a guided update when something has, with every decision captured in one audit-ready approval trail.