Advisor Portal Release Notes 2026
New Interactive Guides for Advisors
We have created two comprehensive online guides to help advisors navigate key aspects of their IBKR experience.
Your Guide to Advisor Service Models
Interactive Brokers offers four distinct service models—Standard, Streamlined, Streamlined Plus, and Full-Service—each designed to meet different advisor needs and regulatory requirements, allowing advisors to progress from basic account management to comprehensive client servicing capabilities as their practice evolves.
Access the guide: https://www.ibkrguides.com/advisorservicemodels/home.htm
Your Guide to Client Onboarding
This guide is designed for professional financial advisors and provides a step-by-step walkthrough of onboarding new clients on the IBKR platform. It covers everything from initial setup to ongoing account management. Use it as a quick-reference manual to streamline your workflow and ensure a smooth experience for you and your clients.
Access the guide: https://www.ibkrguides.com/clientonboarding/home.htm
Native Language Support for Docusign
We continue expanding support for native languages into the Docusign workflows.
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French, Italian, Simplified Chinese and Traditional Chinese for applications and for fee approval forms has been released globally.
QCD – Qualified Charitable Distributions
Overview
We are introducing several enhancements to streamline the Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) process for IRA clients and advisors.
Client-Initiated QCDs
IRA clients can now enter QCD requests directly in the Portal with access to:
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A searchable database of pre-verified charitable organizations
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Simplified selection process for charitable destinations
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Allow for the entry of a memo on the checks issued
Expanded Access
Clients of non-registered advisors can now utilize QCD functionality directly in the Portal.
Benefit
These enhancements provide greater flexibility and accessibility for QCD processing while maintaining appropriate authorization controls across different advisor relationship types.
New Workflow for Adding New Accounts
We are enhancing the account creation process to help advisors more efficiently add accounts for existing clients. This update enables advisors to create additional accounts that can be accessed from the client's existing username.
What's New
When advisors click the "Add Account" button on the main Dashboard page, a new prompt will appear asking: "Are you adding an account for a new or existing client?"
Workflow Options
New Client:
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The existing workflow remains unchanged
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Proceed with standard new client account opening process
Existing Client:
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Advisors will be prompted to:
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Select the existing client
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Select the account to which the new account should be linked
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The new account will be accessible from the client's existing username
Benefit
This streamlined approach reduces duplicate client profiles and simplifies account management for both advisors and clients with multiple accounts.
U.S. Revocable Trusts - Trustee Certification and Withdrawal Changes
Trustee Certification Now Integrated into Application
The Trustee Certification is now included in both DocuSign and PDF packages for:
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Fully Electronic applications (using DocuSign)
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Semi-Electronic applications
Key Details:
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The Trustee Certification and application require signatures only from trustees designated as "Can Sign"
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Clients can now sign the Trustee Certification as part of the application process, streamlining the account opening workflow
Enhanced Withdrawal Functionality
U.S. Revocable Trust applications now include two new withdrawal authorization questions:
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Can the trust withdraw from/deposit to the Grantor?
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Can the trust withdraw from/deposit to the Beneficiaries?
Impact:
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When clients answer YES to either question, the corresponding Grantors and/or Beneficiaries will be displayed as available withdrawal destinations for first-party withdrawals instructions can be created to these authorized parties based on the responses provided
Benefit: This enhancement enables more flexible fund movement while maintaining appropriate controls and documentation.
Updating the Trust Agreement for Existing Accounts
Eligible existing trust accounts can now access the same withdrawal functionality by updating their trust agreement information.
How to Update directly
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Navigate to Profile from the Settings page
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Click the pencil icon to edit
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Select the 'Trust Withdrawal Info' menu item (visible only to eligible trust accounts)
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Answer the withdrawal authorization questions
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Complete a new Trustee Certification via:
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DocuSign (completion task marked automatically), OR
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Physical PDF (upload using the built-in facility)
Withdrawal Page Notifications
For clients who have never provided responses to the withdrawal authorization questions:
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Grantors and Beneficiaries will now be listed as available withdrawal destinations
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If clients attempt to create withdrawal instructions to either party, a notification will appear on the withdrawal page informing them they can update their withdrawal authorization questions to expand their available withdrawal destinations
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The notification will redirect them to the appropriate page to complete the authorization process