Streamline how practice management systems communicate with investment platforms

What does the PAO Standard do?

Criterion’s Platform Account Opening (PAO) Standard supports the process of advisers opening accounts for their new and existing clients on investment platforms, by providing a consistent and integrated mechanism for the transfer of information needed throughout the quote, apply and top-up journeys. 

The Standard eases the pain points by providing a unified framework that ensures information like client details, anti-money laundering evidence, and investment choices is transmitted seamlessly and securely. 

The Standard covers the following type of accounts:

  • GIA;
  • ISA;
  • Junior ISA;
  • SIPP;
  • Junior SIPP;
  • Bond.

Without integration vs with integration

Industry challenges

The transfer of accurate and complete customer, product, and investment information from adviser to platform is fraught with challenges that often hinder efficiency and reliability. 

Advisers face the burden of navigating varying platform requirements which lack standardisation, and result in:

  • Inconsistent formats for submitting essential data;
  • Errors during manual data entry;
  • Incomplete or mismatched information;
  • Delays in onboarding processes.

Additionally, the lack of seamless integration between practice management systems and platforms creates bottlenecks, as advisers must repeatedly input and verify information across multiple systems. These inefficiencies not only consume valuable time but also risk compromising the client experience, making the need for a streamlined, automated framework more critical than ever.

PAO Standard benefits to advisers

  • Saves time: eliminates repetitive data entry by enabling consistent and automated information exchange. 
  • Reduces training effort: advisers avoid constant staff training and retraining when platforms change, as they only need to focus on their own systems and processes, not multiple platforms.
  • Improves accuracy: reduces the risk of errors in transmitting client details, investment choices, and compliance documentation. 
  • Simplifies compliance: supports seamless transfer of anti-money laundering evidence, ensuring obligations are met with ease. 
  • Enhances efficiency: streamlines workflows by standardising processes across multiple platforms. 
  • Stronger client focus: frees up time to build and maintain client relationships rather than managing administrative tasks. 
  • Reduces frustration: minimises the challenges of navigating varying platform requirements and inconsistent documentation formats.

PAO Standard benefits to platforms

  • Faster onboarding: accelerates the onboarding timeline, enhancing client satisfaction and retention. 
  • Operational efficiency: streamlines account opening processes, reducing delays and minimising administrative workloads. 
  • Saves costs: reduced operational costs by automating processes and minimising the need for error resolution. 
  • Enhances integration: facilitates seamless communication with advisers’ practice management systems, making platforms easier to work with. 
  • Maximises ROI: each integrated journey can be implemented with multiple practice management systems, rather than having to build bespoke requirements for each.
  • Competitive advantage: demonstrates leadership in innovation and collaboration, attracting more advisers and clients. 
  • Scalability: supports future growth by aligning with industry Standards. 
  • Improved adviser relationships: builds trust and loyalty by offering a streamlined and consistent user experience. 

Learn more

If you would like to find out more about our PAO Standard or how you can become a member of the working group, then please get in touch with us at [email protected]

Aviva

“Being part of the Platform Account Opening Working Group lets us shape transformational Standards that streamline processes, enhance reusability, and ensure future-ready solutions for platforms and advisers.”

Paul Wood, Aviva

Aviva

PAO Standard

PAO overview documentation

PAO Overview.pdf

347.06 KB

Overview of the Platform Account Opening Standard

BRD_Platform_Account_Opening_DraftB.pdf

698.76 KB

added for Publication on website

PAO Orchestration.pdf

645.19 KB

Guidance on using Standard resources for the platform account opening process

REST API Design.pdf

338.13 KB

Overview of the technical design used in Criterion RESTful APIs

OpenAPI definitions

Common Rest Parts v1.0 Draft D OpenAPI.yaml

16.25 KB

OpenAPI Definition for common REST-based components shared across various Criterion resources

Account Resource v1.0 Draft B OpenAPI.yaml

33.92 KB

OpenAPI Definition for the account resource

Adviser Resource v1.0 Draft B OpenAPI.yaml

32.24 KB

OpenAPI Definition for the adviser resource

Application Resource v1.0 Draft B OpenAPI.yaml

28.79 KB

OpenAPI Definition for the application resource

Asset Resource v1.0 Draft B OpenAPI.yaml

50.6 KB

OpenAPI Definition for the asset resource

Employer Resource v1.0 Draft B OpenAPI.yaml

24.84 KB

OpenAPI Definition for the employer resource

Investment Instruction Resource v1.0 Draft B OpenAPI.yaml

39.08 KB

OpenAPI Definition for the investment instruction resource

Model Portfolio Resource v1.0 Draft B OpenAPI.yaml

33 KB

OpenAPI Definition for the model portfolio resource

Money In Regular Resource v1.0 Draft B OpenAPI.yaml

35.6 KB

OpenAPI Definition for the money in regular resource

Money In Single Resource v1.0 Draft B OpenAPI.yaml

31.48 KB

OpenAPI Definition for the money in single resource

Money In Transfer Resource v1.0 Draft B OpenAPI.yaml

41.22 KB

OpenAPI Definition for the money in transfer resource

Money Out Regular Resource v1.0 Draft B OpenAPI.yaml

36.92 KB

OpenAPI Definition for the money out regular resource

Quote Resource v1.0 Draft B OpenAPI.yaml

17.35 KB

OpenAPI Definition for the quote resource

Adviser Charge Resource v1.0 Draft B OpenAPI.yaml

31.38 KB

OpenAPI Definition for the adviser charge resource

Bank Account Resource v1.0 Draft B OpenAPI.yaml

31.34 KB

OpenAPI Definition for the bank account resource

Contact Resource v1.0 Draft B OpenAPI.yaml

34.31 KB

OpenAPI Definition for the contact resource

Document Resource v1.0 Draft B OpenAPI.yaml

15.9 KB

OpenAPI Definition for the document resource

Owner Resource v1.0 Draft B OpenAPI.yaml

28.79 KB

OpenAPI Definition for the owner resource

Person Resource v1.0 Draft B OpenAPI.yaml

53.74 KB

OpenAPI Definition for the person resource

Address Resource v1.0 Draft B OpenAPI.yaml

27.97 KB

OpenAPI Definition for the address resource

Resource guides

Account Resource Guide v1.0 Draft B.pdf

191.83 KB

Data structure and resource relationships for the account resource

Address Resource Guide v1.0 Draft B.pdf

178.05 KB

Data structure and resource relationships for the address resource

Adviser Resource Guide v1.0 Draft B.pdf

185.34 KB

Data structure and resource relationships for the adviser resource

Adviser Charge Resource Guide v1.0 Draft B.pdf

188.92 KB

Data structure and resource relationships for the adviser charge resource

Application Resource Guide v1.0 Draft B.pdf

185.1 KB

Data structure and resource relationships for the application resource

Asset Resource Guide v1.0 Draft B.pdf

196.74 KB

Data structure and resource relationships for the asset resource

Bank Account Resource Guide v1.0 Draft B.pdf

186.1 KB

Data structure and resource relationships for the bank account resource

Contact Resource Guide v1.0 Draft B.pdf

193.61 KB

Data structure and resource relationships for the contact resource

Document Resource Guide v1.0 Draft B.pdf

180.69 KB

Data structure and resource relationships for the document resource

Employer Resource Guide v1.0 Draft B.pdf

165.94 KB

Data structure and resource relationships for the employer resource

Investment Instruction Resource Guide v1.0 Draft B.pdf

206.38 KB

Data structure and resource relationships for the investment instruction resource

Model Portfolio Resource Guide v1.0 Draft B.pdf

190.11 KB

Data structure and resource relationships for the model portfolio resource

Money In Regular Resource Guide v1.0 Draft B.pdf

201.4 KB

Data structure and resource relationships for the money in regular resource

Money In Single Resource Guide v1.0 Draft B.pdf

189.07 KB

Data structure and resource relationships for the money in single resource

Money In Transfer Resource Guide v1.0 Draft B.pdf

241.14 KB

Data structure and resource relationships for the money in transfer resource

Money Out Regular Resource Guide v1.0 Draft B.pdf

205.58 KB

Data structure and resource relationships for the money out regular resource

Owner Resource Guide v1.0 Draft B.pdf

182.39 KB

Data structure and resource relationships for the owner resource

Person Resource Guide v1.0 Draft B.pdf

252.41 KB

Data structure and resource relationships for the person resource

Quote Resource Guide v1.0 Draft B.pdf

159.7 KB

Data structure and resource relationships for the quote resource