Can a resolution be signed electronically?

Yes. Electronic signatures are valid under the federal ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. §7001) and by UETA in most states when the parties show intent, consent, attribution, and retention. Some documents remain excluded from e-signing exceptions listed under ESIGN and UETA; confirm if a notarization or physical original is required.

When is notarization required?

Not all resolutions require notarization. Requirements vary by state and by counterparty. If a custodian or bank requests a notarized copy, follow that request. Remote online notarization (RON) is permissible where state law allows and where the notary follows identity-proofing and recording rules.

Who should witness or sign?

Authorized signers are those named in bylaws or prior board action. Witnesses are only necessary where state law or the receiving party requires them. Corporate minutes should identify the approving body and record the vote to support signer authority.

How do I amend or revoke a resolution?

Amendments should be taken by the same authority level that issued the original resolution, documented in minutes, and executed with the same formalities. Revocation requires a new resolution expressly rescinding prior authority and notifying custodians and counterparties.

How should I store the executed resolution?

Maintain the signed resolution in the corporate minute book or an approved records system. Keep a tamper-evident signed PDF plus the signature audit trail for the retention period required by regulators and your internal record retention policy.

What if a broker or custodian rejects the resolution?

Confirm the custodian’s required form or language and provide any additional attestations, notarizations, or corporate proofs they request. If disagreements persist, seek legal counsel to resolve authority disputes and avoid transactional delays.

Electronic Signature
Templates
Finance
Financial Investment Resolution

Financial Investment Resolution

This template is fully customizable. Edit the text, fill out the fields, and send it for signature. Give it a try!

FINANCIAL INVESTMENT RESOLUTION

The undersigned, being the Board of Directors of the corporation named below, duly convened in accordance with the bylaws, hereby adopts the following resolution authorizing the establishment and management of investment accounts and transactions.

Company Name:

Jurisdiction of Incorporation: Date of Meeting:

RECITALS

WHEREAS, the Company desires to invest corporate funds for the purpose of preserving principal, generating income, and achieving appropriate liquidity while complying with applicable law and the Company’s investment policy; and

WHEREAS, the Board desires to authorize the opening of accounts, retention of custodians and advisors, and delegation of authority to designated officers to effect investments in accordance with the terms contained herein.

RESOLVED

1. Authorization to Open Accounts. The Company is authorized to open and maintain investment accounts and custodial relationships with one or more financial institutions or brokers. Custodian/Primary Institution: . Account Type(s): .

2. Investment Objectives and Permitted Investments. The Company adopts the following investment objectives and permits investment in the types of instruments indicated by the Board. Permitted investments (select all that apply):

Equities (common/ preferred stocks) Fixed income securities (government, municipal, corporate bonds) Money market instruments and cash equivalents Mutual funds and exchange traded funds (ETFs) Limited derivatives for hedging purposes subject to Board approval Other:

3. Investment Limits. The Board establishes the following limits and delegations: Maximum aggregate principal authority delegated to officers for non-budgeted investments: $. Investments in any single issuer shall not exceed of the Company's invested assets unless specifically approved by the Board.

4. Delegation of Authority. The following individuals are authorized to act on behalf of the Company with respect to opening accounts, executing agreements, placing orders, and otherwise managing investments within the limits set forth above. Each named individual may act singly unless otherwise indicated.

Authorized Officer 1 Title Authorized Officer 2 Title

CUSTODY, BROKERAGE AND ADVISORS

The Company authorizes retention of custodial services and investment advisors as necessary. Primary Custodian: . Investment Advisor/Fund Manager (if any): .

REPORTING; COMPLIANCE

Authorized officers shall provide written investment reports to the Board at least quarterly, including holdings, transactions, realized and unrealized gains or losses, fees, and performance relative to stated objectives. All investment activity must comply with applicable law, the Company's governance documents, and this Resolution.

INDEMNIFICATION; LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

The Company shall indemnify and hold harmless any authorized officer, director, custodian, or advisor acting in good faith and in compliance with this Resolution against liabilities and losses as permitted under applicable law and the Company’s organizational documents. No authorized person shall be liable to the Company for losses resulting from investment decisions made in good faith and with reasonable care.

EFFECTIVE DATE; DURATION

This Resolution is effective as of: and shall remain in effect until amended or rescinded by the Board.

ADDITIONAL TERMS

Special Instructions / Restrictions Board Minutes / Resolution Reference

CERTIFICATION

I, the undersigned Corporate Secretary, hereby certify that the foregoing is a true copy of a resolution duly adopted by the Board of Directors of the Company named above at a meeting held in accordance with applicable law and the bylaws on the date set forth below, and that such resolution is in full force and effect.

Secretary Name Secretary Title Date of Certification

Company Representative (Printed Name):

By:

Date:

Corporate Secretary (Printed Name):

By:

Date:

What a Financial Investment Resolution Is and When It Applies

A Financial Investment Resolution is a formal corporate record authorizing an entity or its officers to make, manage, or approve investments on behalf of the organization. Typical uses include approving securities purchases, authorizing custodial accounts, delegating trading authority, or approving capital allocations. The document identifies the approving body (board, committee, or authorized officer), spells out limits and conditions, and documents the effective date and any reporting obligations. Properly executed resolutions form part of corporate minutes and support internal controls and external audits.

Why Adopt a Written Financial Investment Resolution

A written resolution creates clear legal authority for investment transactions, reduces ambiguity about who may act, and documents limits and reporting requirements for auditors and regulators.

Who Typically Prepares and Signs This Resolution

Common preparers include corporate counsel, the corporate secretary, CFOs, and board committees tasked with investment oversight.

Corporate Boards and Committees
Chief Financial Officers (CFOs)
Corporate Secretaries and Legal Counsel

Organizations of all sizes use written resolutions to formalize investment authority and to create a clear audit trail for internal controls.

Representative Signatories and Their Roles

Board Chair

Board Chairs typically approve the resolution language and may sign to attest board approval. Their signature confirms that the board authorized delegated authority and sets the effective date; corporate minutes should reference the resolution.

Chief Financial Officer

CFOs often execute operational steps under the resolution, interacting with brokers and custodians. The CFO’s signature affirms compliance with stated limits and reporting obligations and is used for internal control documentation and external audit trails.

Step-by-Step: Preparing and Executing the Resolution

Follow these sequential steps to draft, approve, sign, and record a Financial Investment Resolution so it becomes an effective, auditable corporate authorization.

01

Draft Resolution: Describe authority, limits, and effective date in clear legal language.
02

Review & Approve: Legal counsel and finance review; board or committee votes as required.
03

Signatures: Collect authorized signatures, dates, and any required witness or notary attestations.
04

Recordkeeping: File the signed resolution in corporate minutes and financial records.

Essential Information to Include on the Resolution

Entity Identifier: EIN or registration number

Authorized Person: Full legal name and title

Scope of Authority: Asset types and limits

Custodian Details: Broker or bank name

Effective Term: Start and end dates

Record Reference: Minute book location

How Electronic Execution and Submission Works

Electronic execution follows a predictable workflow: prepare the document, assign signing roles, authenticate signers, capture signatures, and archive the certificate of completion.

Document Preparation: Upload and place signature fields in the PDF or DOCX file.
Signer Authentication: Use email, SMS, or stronger methods for identity verification.
Signing Event: Signer reviews and applies an electronic signature; timestamp recorded.
Audit Trail: Platform captures IP, timestamp, and action log for evidence.

Typical Digital Workflow Settings for the Resolution

Configure workflow settings to match governance requirements and to preserve an evidentiary audit trail for each executed resolution.

Field	Configuration
Signer Order	Sequential or parallel signing as corporate bylaws require
Authentication Level	Email only, SMS code, or KBA for higher assurance
Notary Integration	Enable remote online notarization where permitted
Retention Rule	Store signed PDF and audit trail for required retention period

Technical Considerations for eSigning and eSubmission

Choose a platform that supports secure signatures, a verifiable audit trail, and required integrations for your custodians and records system.

Integrations: Salesforce, NetSuite, Microsoft 365
File Formats: PDF, DOCX, and editable templates
Security: AES-256 at rest; TLS 1.2/1.3

Timing and Internal Deadlines to Track

Resolutions have internal deadlines tied to board meetings, custodian onboarding, and reporting cycles; track each date to avoid lapses in authority.

Board Approval Date:

Record date of vote and include in the resolution

Effective Date:

When authority begins; use MM/DD/YYYY format

Custodian Notification:

Send executed resolution to broker within 7–14 days

Periodic Review:

Review authority annually or as governance requires

Revocation Notice:

Timing for revocation and custodian acknowledgment

Key Milestones From Draft to Archive

Map these milestones to create a clear lifecycle for each resolution from drafting through archival and potential revocation.

01

Drafting

Prepare language and scope; identify signers and limits.

02

Approval

Board or committee vote recorded in minutes.

03

Execution

Collect signatures, notarizations, or witness attestations as required.

04

Archival

Store final signed copy with minutes and financial records.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Preparing a Resolution

Leaving authority vague or open-ended, which can lead to disputes with counterparties or internal control failures.
Failing to match signer names to official records, causing custodians or banks to refuse transactions.
Neglecting to document board minutes or voting records that corroborate the resolution’s approval, weakening evidentiary value.
Overlooking witness or notary requirements in jurisdictions that require additional authentication for certain instruments.

Potential Consequences of an Incorrect or Missing Resolution

Transaction Rejection: Custodian may refuse to act

Contract Voidability: Counterparty may challenge authority

Fiduciary Liability: Directors or officers risk personal liability

Audit Findings: Internal or external auditors may flag noncompliance

Regulatory Penalties: Possible fines or corrective orders

Tax Consequences: Incorrect reporting could trigger penalties

Comparison: Typical eSignature Vendor Pricing and Features

Basic pricing and feature availability across common eSignature vendors to inform platform selection; signNow is listed first per comparison conventions.

	signNow	DocuSign	Adobe Sign	PandaDoc	HelloSign
Starting Price	$8/user/mo	$15/user/mo	$14/user/mo	$19/user/mo	$15/user/mo
Free Trial	7-day trial	Varies	Varies	Varies	Varies
Bulk Send	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Audit Trail	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
HIPAA Compliant	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No

Real-World Customer Notes on Digital Execution

Organizations report that digital execution simplifies distributed approvals and reduces turnaround time for corporate authorizations.

Optica Ventures (COO)

Optica found the signing interface simple for internal teams and clients.

The interface is simple and easy-to-use for our team; more importantly, it is just as easy for our customers.
That ease reduced document turnaround and made it simpler to confirm signatures during investor onboarding and routine approvals.

Martin Properties (Founder)

A real estate operator used online signing to process corporate documents remotely.

I can process and execute all of these documents online with 100% compliance and built-in security.
The ability to sign on mobile or offline meant approvals did not halt deals when principals were traveling or remote.

Frequently Asked Questions About Financial Investment Resolutions

Answers to common questions about drafting, execution, notarization, and storage of Financial Investment Resolutions in U.S. practice.

Need help? Contact support

Can a resolution be signed electronically?
Yes. Electronic signatures are valid under the federal ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. §7001) and by UETA in most states when the parties show intent, consent, attribution, and retention. Some documents remain excluded from e-signing exceptions listed under ESIGN and UETA; confirm if a notarization or physical original is required.
When is notarization required?
Not all resolutions require notarization. Requirements vary by state and by counterparty. If a custodian or bank requests a notarized copy, follow that request. Remote online notarization (RON) is permissible where state law allows and where the notary follows identity-proofing and recording rules.
Who should witness or sign?
Authorized signers are those named in bylaws or prior board action. Witnesses are only necessary where state law or the receiving party requires them. Corporate minutes should identify the approving body and record the vote to support signer authority.
How do I amend or revoke a resolution?
Amendments should be taken by the same authority level that issued the original resolution, documented in minutes, and executed with the same formalities. Revocation requires a new resolution expressly rescinding prior authority and notifying custodians and counterparties.
How should I store the executed resolution?
Maintain the signed resolution in the corporate minute book or an approved records system. Keep a tamper-evident signed PDF plus the signature audit trail for the retention period required by regulators and your internal record retention policy.
What if a broker or custodian rejects the resolution?
Confirm the custodian’s required form or language and provide any additional attestations, notarizations, or corporate proofs they request. If disagreements persist, seek legal counsel to resolve authority disputes and avoid transactional delays.

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