Odlum Brown Advances Its Digital Transformation with Mako’s Next-Generation Technology and Native Dataphile Integration

The solution connects client onboarding with Odlum Brown’s client service infrastructure, supporting the firm’s self-clearing operations.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Odlum Brown, an independent Canadian investment firm, and Mako Financial Technologies today announced the launch of a custom digital client onboarding solution built around Odlum Brown’s workflow requirements and integrated natively into its book of record.

The launch marks a significant step in Odlum Brown’s digital transformation, reflecting the firm’s commitment to shaping the next generation of wealth management through technology and personalized service. Through Mako’s workflow automation platform, the solution brings that vision to life with a more connected digital experience for clients and advisors, creating a foundation for continued innovation and growth.

Odlum Brown manages its own data collection needs for its book of record system necessary to fulfill trading, clearing and settlement operations. Connecting onboarding workflows with this infrastructure was a central consideration in the solution’s development. The native straight-through processing links Mako with Odlum Brown’s existing client service environment, enabling a more seamless onboarding and account-opening journey. This partnership supports Odlum Brown’s broader digital transformation and gives advisors more time to focus on client relationships.

Working in close partnership, the firms tailored the solution to Odlum Brown’s specific business requirements, bringing together exceptional client service expertise and Mako’s leading technology. The result is a platform designed to support revenue growth, deliver more connected digital experiences, and provide a foundation for continued innovation, while preserving the personal attention, oversight, and controls that underpin Odlum Brown’s unparalleled client experience.

“Opening an account is one of the earliest experiences a client has with our firm, and it should be as straightforward and welcoming as possible,” said Sam Jiwani, Chief Information Officer, Vice President, Director at Odlum Brown. “Mako worked with us to understand how we could create a more fluid workflow from end to end, for both our clients and those teams supporting them, while integrating with our existing systems. The result is a seamless experience for our clients and a process that gives our advisors and client service teams the information they need at each stage.”

Peter Pacholko, CPA, CGA, Chief Operating Officer & Chief Financial Officer at Odlum Brown, highlighted three features central to improving the client experience:

“Early on in the planning phases of this client onboarding project we identified three features within the Mako platform that would vastly improve the client experience and decrease the time it takes to open accounts. The first identified feature was collaboration. The flexibility of the Mako platform provides the option for clients to collaborate in the application process or allow our advisory team members to fully populate the data requirements. The second feature was the dynamic workflows in the application, which limit the required data collection or authorizations based on the questions asked at the beginning of the process. And finally, the third feature was the ability to open multiple applications within the same household simultaneously. Another fantastic time saver!”

“Onboarding should make it easier for firms to serve their clients, without creating more work behind the scenes,” said Raphael Bouskila, Founder and CEO of Mako Financial Technologies. “Working closely with Odlum Brown, we built a solution around the way their business operates. The native book of record integration is central to that work, connecting onboarding with their client service operating systems and giving their teams a more efficient foundation to build on.”

The launch establishes a foundation for continued collaboration as Odlum Brown and Mako identify further opportunities to simplify workflows and support the firm’s evolving operational needs.

About Odlum Brown

For over 100 years, independent Canadian investment firm Odlum Brown has been helping clients achieve their financial goals. By gaining a deep understanding of what wealth means to each client, Odlum Brown advisors make a difference for clients through wealth management solutions that bring together investment management with financial, retirement, tax, trust and estate, insurance and philanthropic planning. Nationally, Odlum Brown is distinguished as one of Canada’s Best Managed Companies, an honour that has remained with the firm for 27 years, and one of Canada’s Most Admired Corporate Cultures since 2017. Based in BC and serving clients across Canada and globally, branches are located in Vancouver, Kelowna, Victoria, Chilliwack, Courtenay and Langley. Visit www.odlumbrown.com.

About Mako Financial Technologies

Since 2018, Mako has provided cloud-based client engagement and business process automation services, such as digital onboarding, client reporting, and form automation across the Canadian wealth management industry. Mako offers flexible data model configuration, multi-step data entry, native e-signature, compliance checks, and bulk account opening. Mako is honoured to be a 5-Star WealthTech Provider, and a proud member of PMAC. Mako is headquartered in Montreal, Canada, and led by a team of finance and technology experts. For more information, please visit www.makofintech.com or email [e-mail].