Parties
Full legal names and legal entity types for the account holder and the authorized agent; include titles and capacity (e.g., trustee, corporate officer).
A well-drafted Investment Authority Document clarifies who may act, what powers they have, and when those powers begin or end. Clear scope reduces disputes, speeds custodial onboarding, and supports compliance with broker-dealer and fiduciary duties while preserving an auditable consent trail for regulators and third parties.
Several roles commonly prepare or sign investment authority paperwork; the document serves both individual and institutional contexts.
Use this document whenever trading authority, withdrawal rights, or limited custodial instructions must be recorded formally and accepted by the custodian or financial institution.
A retail investor or legal account owner who grants authority. The account holder sets limits, selects the authorized agent, and remains legally responsible unless authority is properly revoked.
A licensed advisor or broker acting under the granted authority. This signer often provides ongoing investment decisions and must follow the instructions and restrictions described in the document.
Full legal names and legal entity types for the account holder and the authorized agent; include titles and capacity (e.g., trustee, corporate officer).
Describe permitted activities precisely (trade types, asset classes, margin authority, withdrawal limits) to avoid overbroad delegation and disputes.
State effective and termination dates, conditions for automatic renewal, and procedures for revocation to clarify how long authority remains in force.
Provide account numbers, custodial contact details, settlement instructions, and any documentation the custodian requires to accept instructions.
Detail any fees, commissions, or advisory compensation and how they are calculated, billed, and disclosed to the account owner.
Signature blocks, notarization/witness requirements, and electronic signature provisions including evidence the custodian will accept.
| Field Mapping | Configuration | Map each form field to a named data field to enable reuse and integrations |
|---|---|
| Authentication Method | Use email plus SMS code or higher assurance for advisor signers |
| Conditional Fields | Show or hide fee and trustee sections based on entity type |
| Bulk Send | Enable when issuing the same authority to multiple accounts |
| Audit Trail | Capture timestamps, IP, and signer attribution for compliance |
Choose a platform that supports required authentication, audit trails, and integrations with custodians or account systems.
Authority often takes effect when custodian acknowledges receipt
Typically 1–5 business days to reflect in account
Allow for market hours and settlement windows when issuing trade permissions
Processing may take several business days after receipt
Keep executed documents per legal retention rules
Document prepared with all required fields and supporting attachments.
All parties sign; notarization or witnesses completed if required.
Custodian reviews and acknowledges authority for account operations.
Advisor or authorized agent begins executing trades per the document.
| 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 free trial | Varies by plan | Varies by plan | Varies by plan | Varies by plan |
| Bulk Send | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Audit Trail | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| HIPAA Compliant | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Envelope Cap | No cap | 100 envelopes/user/year | Varies by plan | Varies by plan | Varies by plan |