Office address: 3000 Schwab Way, Westlake, TX 76262
Website: www.schwab.com
Year established: 1971
Company type: non-discretionary investment advisory program
Employees: 35,300+
Expertise: venture capital and private equity, finance, mutual funds, ETFs, stocks, options, futures, bonds, CDs and fixed income, money market funds, cash solutions and rates, annuities, cryptocurrency, brokerage and trading, retirement accounts (IRAs), education and custodial
Parent company: N/A
Key people: Walter Bettinger II (CEO), Charles Schwab (co-chair), Rick Wurster (president), Steve Anderson (managing director), Mike Verdeschi (CFO), Dennis Howard (CIO), Stacy Hammond (CMO), Tim Heier (CTO)
Financing status: N/A
Charles Schwab is a Westlake-based investment services company, known for its innovative approach to investing. The company has over 35,300 employees across more than 420 global locations. As of 2024, Charles Schwab manages over $9.92 trillion in client assets.
Schwab’s subsidiaries provide a full spectrum of services, including brokerage, banking, and financial advisory, challenging traditional Wall Street practices in support of clients.
Founded in 1971 by Charles Schwab, the firm initially offered discounted brokerage services to make investing accessible to more Americans. In 1975, after brokerage fees were deregulated, Schwab seized the opportunity by reducing fees and attracting cost-sensitive investors. The company went public in 1987, further strengthening its reputation in financial services.
The organization led the industry with one of the first online trading platforms, making stock trading more convenient. In 2020, it acquired TD Ameritrade, solidifying its role as one of the top brokerage firms in the country. By 2023, Charles Schwab had become a major financial institution, managing trillions of dollars in assets and adapting to digital finance advancements.
Charles Schwab offers a range of investment, banking, and advisory services designed to support both individual investors and financial professionals:
For over 50 years, Charles Schwab has prioritized accessible investing with transparent pricing and $0 online trades. The firm promises client satisfaction and security from unauthorized activity.
Charles Schwab’s culture centers around client commitment and teamwork. Employees work in a collaborative environment, united by the mission to put clients first and challenge the status quo. Schwab supports staff with a comprehensive benefits package, including:
The company’s environmental initiatives focus on sustainable practices, guided by a commitment to reducing ecological impacts through efficient resource management. Charles Schwab’s ESG goals emphasize sustainable buildings and solar energy initiatives, aiming to enhance efficiency and transparency in its environmental performance:
Schwab fosters a diverse and inclusive workplace, valuing the unique backgrounds and perspectives of its employees. The firm’s commitment includes various initiatives aimed at broadening opportunities and enhancing representation:
Charles Schwab’s approach empowers employees to make meaningful contributions while advancing professionally. Its focus on innovation and inclusivity defines a work environment that values service and supports employees’ personal growth.
Walter W. Bettinger II serves as the CEO and co-chair of Charles Schwab’s Board of Directors, guiding the company’s strategic direction. Before joining Schwab, Bettinger founded Hampton Pension Services and worked in the pension division of Westfield Insurance. He is an alumnus of Harvard Business School, Ohio University, and Delta State University.
The executive team at Charles Schwab drives the company’s strategic vision and operations across various departments:
Charles R. Schwab is a founder and co-chairman, shaping company strategy and mission
Rick Wurster serves as president, overseeing client offerings and operational management across Charles Schwab’s service lines
Steve Anderson is a managing director, head of workplace financial services, managing retirement and employee benefit plans
Mike Verdeschi as a managing director and CFO, leads the company’s financial strategy and fiscal oversight
Dennis Howard acts as a managing director and chief information officer, directing technology infrastructure and cybersecurity efforts
Stacy Hammond, serving as managing director and chief marketing officer, spearheads Schwab’s branding and marketing initiatives
Tim Heier as managing director and chief technology officer drives innovation and development of Schwab’s technology platforms
Following its post-migration to TD Ameritrade, Charles Schwab has streamlined its services for smoother customer experiences, especially around advisor interactions and digital features. While some advisors seek alternative custodians, the company remains committed to supporting its clients through targeted service enhancements and maintaining its non-competitive stance with advisors. The firm has also bolstered technology upgrades to align with its expanded scale, keeping advisors engaged with improved tools and resources.
In 2024, Charles Schwab was recognized by Wolfe Research as a leading retail broker, supported by robust fundamentals and the strength of rising interest rates. The company’s capital position enables it to pursue growth opportunities, including share buybacks, solidifying its role as a resilient player in the financial sector. Schwab’s client-focused approach, disciplined financial management, and advisor-friendly policies continue to underscore its dedication to success.
ETFs expected to make up a growing share of investor portfolios in the year ahead, according to Charles Schwab & Co.’s ETF Investor Study.
The program would apply to businesses with as few as five employees, requiring companies to participate and automatically enroll workers, unless they already provide retirement plans.
The financial services industry relied on technology and innovation to adapt and keep business running throughout the pandemic, and should continue to embrace much of what was learned.
Wealthtech powerhouses Riskalyze and AssetMark are leveraging integrations and the personalization trend to capture adviser attention.
The companies are the latest that work with thousands of financial advisers to make plans for employees or work with local officials to ease the introduction of vaccines.
The campaigner who was instrumental in pushing BlackRock to act against climate change is now taking aim at Vanguard Group.
The goal of the self-serve portal is for fintechs to identify use cases for the hundreds of APIs Schwab and TD Ameritrade have available.
Member firms and trade associations representing them told Finra their pandemic experience has shown that supervisors don’t need to look over the shoulders of registered reps physically to ensure they’re following the rules.
It's the second round of announced layoffs after last year's mega merger. In October, Schwab said it was laying off 1,000 employees, or about 3% of the combined workforce.
Paul Schatz joins to explain the nuances of the Gamestop saga. There are reasons beyond just a Reddit group for the wild action, and Paul goes through all of it.
Robinhood drew millions from bank credit lines as well as raising more than $1 billion from its existing investors.
The brokers with outages or problems include the most prominent names in the discount and online brokerage industry, including Fidelity, the Charles Schwab Corp., TD Ameritrade, ETrade Financial Corp. and Robinhood.
Total U.S. annuity sales hit $58.7 billion in the last three months of the year, up 2% from the $57.6 billion during the same timeframe in 2019, according to data published by Limra’s Secure Retirement Institute. But sales were down for the full year.
As the brokerage navigates the cumbersome undertaking of acquiring thousands of advisers from TD Ameritrade and more than $6 trillion in assets, the broader custody industry is not sitting idle waiting for the fallout.
Do-it-yourself investors found that market gyrations required constant attention and that their amateur trading tools were limited, so many have decided that they need professional help.
