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Monitoring Pending Applications & Broker Client Approval

Lesson 6 of 12
Duration 4:11
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This lesson will review how Brokers can use the Interactive Brokers Broker Portal to monitor the status of pending applications as well as how to enable and use Broker Client Approval.

All Pending Applications can be monitored on the Home Dashboard of the Broker Portal under the Pending Items box. To view further details on the status of a pending application, click the blue Incomplete link under the Status column.

A pop-up window will open listing the Application Tasks. The completed tasks will be noted in green and have a time stamp of when the task was completed, whereas the pending tasks will be red flagged and reflected as “To be done.”

If the application was Fully Electronic, the Broker can view the client’s last login attempt towards the bottom of the Application Tasks window and whether the client was successful in logging in. This information can be helpful to the Broker who may want to check in with the client to see if they need help if some time has passed since their last login. The broker can also cancel the application on the client’s behalf by clicking Delete Application in the bottom right corner. If any supplemental documents are required for the application, the blue Upload Document button will be available next to Delete Application.

If it was a Semi-Electronic application, the Broker will have a separate button in the bottom right corner for Modify Application. Clicking Modify Application will re-direct the broker to the application page where they can make any necessary changes and also upload any required documents.

When the application is approved and the account is opened, it will be reflected under the Recent Activity tab which displays any client funding and application activity from the past five days. If no activity has occurred, a message to that effect will appear.

Broker Client Approval

Introducing Brokers on the IBKR platform can elect to enable Broker Client Approval which allows the Broker’s compliance team to pre-review and approve new client applications and requests for options trading permissions prior to IBKR reviews them.

To enable Broker Client Approval, click the Head and Shoulders icon in the upper right corner and select Settings and the master broker account. On the Account Settings page, navigate to the Account Configuration section and select Client Approvals. Select Yes to enable the Broker Client Approval and click Save.

Once the client has completed the application, it is moved to Account Review for the Introducing Broker to approve prior to the application being reviewed by IBKR. Like applications in progress, the Account Review is reflected in the Pending Items section of the Dashboard. To review and approve the application, select Needs Broker Approval under the Status column.

The broker will be redirected to the Contact Information for the account and a yellow text box will be highlighted at the top to Review the Client Application. Once the Broker has reviewed the client information on the page, the broker can elect to Decline the application or Approve it.

If Approve is selected, the broker will be prompted to enter commentary and they can select Approve once more to complete the Broker Client Approval. The application will then be reviewed by IBKR.

As we have reviewed in this lesson, the IBKR Broker Portal enables Introducing Brokers to monitor their clients’ applications giving the broker the option to pre-approve an application prior to being reviewed by IBKR.

Resources

Broker Client Approval

Broker Portal User Guide

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If you have a general question, it may already be covered in our FAQs. If you have an account-specific question or concern, please reach out to Client Services.

4 thoughts on “Monitoring Pending Applications & Broker Client Approval”

  • Quantum

    I have set up my account, followed all the steps and funded my account. Now when I try to log in it tells me that the username and password do not exist

    • Interactive Brokers

      Hello, thank you for reaching out. Please view this page to troubleshoot Trading Platform Login Failures: https://www.ibkrguides.com/kb/article-1133.htm. If you have any more questions, please reach back out. We are here to help!

  • Johnny Siel

    I’m trying to buy long call options contracts but it says I’m not allowed? How do I enable options trading on your platform?

    • Interactive Brokers

      Hi. You can easily view and manage your trading permissions any time in Client Portal:
      https://ndcdyn.interactivebrokers.com/sso/Login?action=TA_TRADE_PERM_BETA
      For more information on Options levels 1-4, please visit
      https://ibkr.info/node/4860

      You must request trading permissions to trade specific products and in specific regions. IBKR grants permissions based on your financial profile (e.g. age, liquid net worth, investment objectives, product knowledge and prior trading experience) and sometimes where you are located. Please note that we cannot disclose the requirements needed for specific trading permissions.

      We hope this helps!

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Disclosure: Interactive Brokers

The analysis in this material is provided for information only and is not and should not be construed as an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any security. To the extent that this material discusses general market activity, industry or sector trends or other broad-based economic or political conditions, it should not be construed as research or investment advice. To the extent that it includes references to specific securities, commodities, currencies, or other instruments, those references do not constitute a recommendation by IBKR to buy, sell or hold such investments. This material does not and is not intended to take into account the particular financial conditions, investment objectives or requirements of individual customers. Before acting on this material, you should consider whether it is suitable for your particular circumstances and, as necessary, seek professional advice.

The views and opinions expressed herein are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Interactive Brokers, its affiliates, or its employees.

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