LAS VEGAS, MONEY20/20, OCTOBER 27, 2019 — First Ascent Asset Management, a Turnkey Asset Management Program (TAMP) company servicing independent investment advisors, founded by industry veteran Scott MacKillop, partners with Anvil, a San Francisco based business process automation company. Anvil’s customizable workflow automation software, was integrated into First Ascent’s proprietary online proposal, and new account information system to automate account document generation, electronic signatures, and interface with custodian banks for instant account opening. The streamlined process will increase operational efficiency, decrease time to account opening, and allows First Ascent to continue providing white-glove service to its advisors and their clients.
First Ascent Asset Management is the first TAMP to provide flat-fee investment portfolio management to independent wealth advisors. Their unwavering focus to deliver the best client service to independent wealth advisors has helped the four year old company grow quickly. From the start, First Ascent’s hypothesis was to leverage technology to provide advisors a superior experience, have streamlined internal processes, reduce account opening times, and ultimately keep costs low, all while providing exceptional client service.
First Ascent has created an impressive set of online tools that provide advisors a library of white-labeled marketing materials, client proposal generation, and ability to initiate opening new client
accounts. With the addition of Anvil’s business process automation system to First Ascent’s advisor portal and digital on-boarder, the account opening process is further streamlined and fortified from potential costly errors.
Anvil’s flexible workflow and document automation system means that it could be quickly and easily integrated into First Ascent’s existing technology. Whereas a typical independent software consultancy would have taken a year to design and build this system, Anvil’s enterprise grade, software building blocks, enabled First Ascent to deploy the new automation system in a mere 3-months, from engagement to deployment.
Three key pieces in Anvil’s library of building blocks assisted First Ascent in achieving their goal of complete, new account opening automation.
- Anvil Decision Engine (ADE)
- Anvil Web Forms (AWF)
- Anvil PDF Engine (APE)
When composed together, these three building blocks streamlined information gathering and automated the account information and paperwork process. Anvil Web Forms (AWF) provided dynamic, mobile friendly web forms to gather missing client information, Anvil Business Engine choreographs the entire workflow with encoded business logic, and Anvil PDF Engine generates completed PDF’s documents, before seamlessly sharing the documents to Anvil Etch or third-party e-signature providers signature.
First Ascent’s industry knowledge, technology focus, and existing technology stack, was a perfect complement to Anvil’s document automation building blocks. Our technologies together will help Anvil build the next generation of digital automation and help First Ascent continue to focus on providing the best low-cost portfolio management platform with best in class client service.
About First Ascent Asset Management
First Ascent Asset Management – Industry-first flat-fee asset management firm, focused on being partners with financial advisors for the benefit of their clients. Founded by wealth management industry veteran Scott MacKillop. First Ascent Asset Management is based in Denver Colorado. www.firstascentam.com 720.465.7888
About Anvil Foundry
Anvil Foundry, Inc. (Anvil) – A San Francisco based SaaS startup focused on eliminating tedious tasks from the workplace. Anvil’s mission is to help businesses streamline information gathering and automate workflows. Anvil is founded by Mang-Git Ng and Ben Ogle and has raised venture capital backing from prominent Silicon Valley Investors, including Menlo Ventures, and 122 West. www.useanvil.com 415.952.9552