The Benefits of Going Paperless for Investment Accounts

Today, many investors manage their financial lives digitally. From online banking to mobile bill pay and secure client portals, technology has made it easier to stay connected to your accounts anytime, anywhere. Investment accounts are no exception.

If you still receive printed investment account statements in the mail, you may want to consider switching to paperless statements through eDelivery. Choosing secure document delivery can help simplify your financial life, reduce risk, and make it easier to stay organized — especially when you’re working closely with a financial advisor to pursue long-term goals.

Below, we explore the key benefits of going paperless and how to enroll through Account View.

Faster Access to Important Documents

When you enroll in paperless statements, your documents are available online as soon as they’re ready. There’s no waiting for the mail or worrying about delivery delays.

Through online account access in Account View, you can quickly view:

• Monthly or quarterly investment account statements
• Trade confirmations
• Tax documents such as 1099 forms
• Other important account notices

Having digital access can make it easier to stay informed and prepared. Pre-retirees and retirees, in particular, often need timely access to documents for income planning, Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs), or tax preparation.

Paperless delivery also makes collaboration with your financial advisor more efficient. When your statements and tax forms are available online, you and your advisor can review the same up-to-date information during meetings — whether in person or virtual — helping support more productive conversations.

Enhanced Security Compared to Paper Mail

While no system can eliminate risk entirely, traditional mail can present certain vulnerabilities. Mailboxes may be accessed by others, envelopes can be misplaced, and sensitive documents may sit unattended for days.

Paperless statements are delivered through secure document delivery within your online account. Access typically includes safeguards such as:

• Username and password protection
• Multi-factor authentication
• Encrypted systems

This means your investment account statements are stored within a secure digital environment rather than traveling through the postal system.

Reducing the amount of sensitive financial information sent through physical mail can help lower exposure to risks such as mail fraud or identity theft. Although digital systems also require careful password management and cybersecurity awareness, many investors appreciate the added control that online access provides.

Reduced Risk of Mail Fraud and Identity Theft

Financial documents often contain personal information, including your name, address, and partial account numbers. When these documents are delivered by mail, they may pass through multiple hands before reaching you.

By enrolling in eDelivery, you limit the number of physical documents that could be lost, misdelivered, or intercepted. Fewer paper statements in your mailbox also mean fewer sensitive documents sitting in recycling bins or filing cabinets.

Reducing paper mail is one practical step investors can take to help safeguard their information.

A Positive Environmental Impact

Going paperless can also support sustainability efforts.

Each year, millions of pages of investment account statements and disclosures are printed and mailed. By switching to eDelivery, you help reduce paper usage, printing resources, and transportation associated with physical mail.

Choosing paperless statements is a small change that can contribute to a broader effort to use resources more efficiently.

Less Clutter, Better Organization

Paper documents can accumulate quickly. Over time, organizing years of statements can become overwhelming.

With paperless statements, your records are stored securely within Account View. You can:

• Access historical investment account statements by date
• Download documents as needed
• Print copies if you want a hard copy for your files

Having centralized online account access can make it easier to locate specific documents during tax season or when reviewing your long-term investment strategy.

For retirees managing multiple income sources or households tracking several accounts, digital organization can simplify recordkeeping and reduce household clutter.

Working with Your Financial Advisor

Your financial advisor plays an important role in helping you stay aligned with your goals. Paperless delivery can support that relationship.

When documents are available through secure online access, it becomes easier to:

• Review account performance together
• Discuss changes in income or distribution strategies
• Prepare for tax meetings with coordinated information
• Quickly reference prior statements during planning conversations

Instead of sorting through paper files, you can focus your time on meaningful financial discussions. Digital access helps ensure both you and your advisor are looking at accurate, up-to-date information when making decisions.