Independent research · U.S. registered investment advisers
What has to happen after an adviser approves an RMD or QCD, and before the firm can call it done?
I'm Kris. That's the only question I'm working on right now, and I'm asking operations, client-service and planning people at independent RIAs how it actually works at their firm.
There's nothing to demo or sell. I'm trying to find out whether there's a real problem here at all. If your custodian and CRM already handle this cleanly, that's one of the more useful answers I can get.
20 minutes. No preparation. No client or confidential information. Or just reply to my email and I'll work around your schedule.
What I'm asking about
What happens after the decision?
I'm not asking about how you calculate an RMD or how you decide a QCD makes sense. That part is yours.
I'm asking about everything after it. Who picks the work up once the adviser has approved it. What has to be collected or chased before it can go anywhere. Where the status actually lives while it's in flight. How you find out the custodian did it, and what happens when something comes back not in good order. And what's left in the file at the end of it.
Some firms will tell me their custodian tools and CRM cover most of this and the rest is ten minutes of routine work. That's a real answer, and I'd rather hear it than not. I'm trying to find out whether anything meaningful is left over, or whether this is already a solved problem.
What to expect
A 20-minute walkthrough of one recent case
The most useful thing you can do is walk me through one recent case from memory, start to finish, including anything that needed extra follow-up.
- 01
What I'll ask
Who did what, in what order, and in which systems. Where status lived, whether anything needed follow-up, and how you knew the work was finished.
- 02
What I won't ask
I won't ask for client names, account numbers or confidential information. A fictional or de-identified example is completely fine.
About
Who I am
I'm Kris. My background is in financial-services technology and operations, mostly work that crosses teams, systems, outside platforms, approvals and controls.
Research conversation
Willing to walk me through it?
If you work inside an independent advisory firm and you're up for twenty minutes on how this actually runs at your place, I'd be glad to hear it. Whether it's a mess or completely routine, both are worth knowing.
Or email me directly: [email protected]