The Company
First Ascent Asset Management is a Denver-based asset management firm that has served independent investment advisors since 2016. The firm provides a Turnkey Asset Management Program (TAMP) that includes professionally managed portfolios, a proprietary digital onboarding platform, electronic account opening, and back-office support.
By handling portfolio strategy and operations, First Ascent frees advisors to focus on client relationships and business growth. The firm has differentiated itself through a flat-fee model and a deep commitment to operational efficiency, making the account opening experience a natural place to invest.
The Problem
Before Anvil, First Ascent's account opening process relied on dozens of complex PDF forms, each with detailed instructions on when and how it should be used. Even with a proprietary digital front end for collecting client information, clients still had to work through custodial documents manually and repeat the same data across multiple forms.
Manual form completion introduced avoidable errors, delayed account openings, and in some cases forced the process to restart entirely. The friction affected advisors, clients, and internal teams, making it harder for First Ascent to deliver the consistency and service quality the firm was known for.
"We want to be a partner to our client advisors. Anvil built us a system that's much more efficient, one that's created and branded for us. It has freed up our time to build better business relationships and service our clients."
- Travis Nelson, Director of Client Service and Operations
The Solution
Anvil worked with First Ascent to build a custom Workflow automation solution that connected directly to the firm's proprietary onboarding platform. The integration automated the full process, from information gathering through document completion and electronic signature. Once documents were signed, completed files could be transmitted immediately to the custodian for account opening.
Static PDFs were replaced with dynamic online forms that guide users through simple questions. Built-in logic determines which forms are required, who needs to complete them, and how a single piece of information should map across multiple documents. Real-time validation helps ensure required fields are complete and accurate before submission.
First Ascent no longer relies on manual document handling, repeated data entry, or lengthy client instructions. Anvil now collects, organizes, and routes the documentation needed to open new investment accounts in a fraction of the time.
The Result
With Anvil, First Ascent transformed account opening from a process that took hours into one that takes minutes.
The new workflow reduced manual effort, lowered the risk of form errors, and created a more consistent onboarding experience for both advisors and their clients. It also gave First Ascent a more scalable operating model, allowing the firm to support growth without adding proportional administrative overhead.
