Research
Schwab-sponsored research provides insight on investor trends, consumer finance, independent investment advisors, retirement, and other timely issues
Latest Research
Women Investors Survey, April 2025
Women investors are taking a risk-savvy, patient approach to investing, and 90% feel they are on the right track to reach their financial goals, according to a new Charles Schwab survey of 1,200 American women investors who are primary or joint financial decisionmakers in their households.
Media Contact: Hibah Shariff
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Q1 2025 Trader Client Sentiment Report, February 2025
According to Charles Schwab’s latest quarterly trader client sentiment survey, two out of three traders believe the market is currently overvalued and cite mega cap tech and AI stocks among the most crowded trades. That said, the bulls continue to outnumber the bears among traders 51% to 34%. Those numbers are consistent with the sentiment found during the fourth quarter of last year when 53% of traders were bulls and 31% were bears. Notably, there’s been a spike in bullishness among traders under the age of 40 from less than half in 4Q ’24 to nearly six in ten now.
Media Contact: Margaret Farrell
2024 Research
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2024 RIA Compensation Report, December 2024
Schwab’s RIA Compensation Report reflects responses from Schwab’s 2024 RIA Benchmarking Study, the largest study of its kind, and offers a comprehensive look at compensation practices in the independent RIA industry. 1,055 firms participated in the compensation portion of the 2024 study, representing 81% of those that participated overall. Data was collected from January to March 2024 on over 15,000 employees across 27 roles typically found at RIAs.
Despite digital adoption and tech enhancements reaching unprecedented levels, this year's Compensation Report underscores what we already know: talent is a firm’s most important asset. RIA leaders are reshaping the Employee Value Proposition to look beyond traditional compensation toward benefits like performance-based incentives and equity opportunities, with a focus on attracting, inspiring, and retaining the next generation of talent.
Media Contact: Kristin Meza
High Net Worth Investor Survey, December 2024
A generational shift is emerging among wealthy Americans planning to pass their wealth, according to Schwab’s new survey of more than 1,000 high net worth (HNW) Americans, as younger wealthy Americans break from tradition by opting to transfer their wealth during their lives, rather than waiting until after death. They’re also planning a more prescriptive approach to how their wealth is used.
Media Contact: Hibah Shariff
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Q4 2024 Trader Client Sentiment Report, November 2024
Bullish sentiment among traders is holding steady. The political landscape in Washington, D.C. is traders’ top financial concern, up five points from Q3 to 26%. In addition, 17% of traders are most concerned about geopolitical/global macro issues, up nine points from the previous quarter.
Media Contact: Margaret Farrell
2024 401(k) Participant Survey Part II, October 2024
Workers’ financial health has improved slightly this year, and 401(k) participants are increasingly crediting their employers for helping to manage financial stress, according to Charles Schwab’s 2024 401(k) Participant Study. The research finds 64% of workers say their employers have taken action to help them manage financial stress, compared to 52% who said the same last year.
Media Contact: Mike Peterson
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2024 Schwab Asset Management ETFs and Beyond Survey, October 2024
Research shows that in the face of market drivers like volatility, recession fears, and the upcoming presidential election, ETF investors found opportunities to either lean further in by putting more money into ETFs or — more often — they chose to sit tight with their ETF investing. The 2024 edition of “ETFs and Beyond,” an annual study by Schwab Asset Management, was released this year in conjunction with the 15th anniversary of Schwab ETFs.
Media Contact: Christine Underhill
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Independent Advisor Outlook Study, October 2024
The story of the RIA industry in 2024 is one of complexity but also vibrancy, shaped by creativity, healthy competition, and growing client demand for the fiduciary model.
Media Contact: Kelly Cook
Q3 2024 Trader Client Sentiment Report, August 2024
Traders are feeling better about the markets than they have any time in the past two years with 56% reporting a bullish outlook for the next three months, up ten points from the second quarter. This is according to the latest Charles Schwab Trader Sentiment Survey, a quarterly survey that explores the outlooks, expectations, and perspectives of traders at Charles Schwab.
Media Contact: Margaret Farrell
Modern Wealth Survey Part II, August 2024
Americans now think it takes an average of $2.5 million to be considered wealthy, which is up slightly from 2023 and 2022 ($2.2 million), according to Schwab’s annual Modern Wealth Survey. By generation, Boomers have the highest threshold of what it takes to be considered wealthy, at $2.8 million, while the younger generations, Millennials and Gen Z, have lower thresholds of what is considered wealthy. When asked if they think they will be wealthy within their lifetimes, 21% of Americans say they are on track to be wealthy. Younger Americans, including Millennials and Gen Z, are the most optimistic about being wealthy in their lifetimes (29%).
Media Contact: Meredith Richard
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2024 401(k) Participant Study, July 2024
Workers are feeling more confident about their ability to reach their financial goals for retirement as anxiety around inflation and market volatility has come down since last year, according to a new survey from Charles Schwab. The annual nationwide survey of 401(k) plan participants finds that 43% of workers think they are very likely to achieve their retirement savings goals compared to 37% in 2023. Inflation and stock market volatility continue to be the biggest obstacles to saving for a comfortable retirement, though workers are slightly less concerned about both factors in 2024.
Media Contact: Mike Peterson
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2024 RIA Benchmarking Study, July 2024
Schwab Advisor Services’ 2024 RIA Benchmarking Study features insights from more than 1,300 independent advisor firms, representing over $2 trillion in AUM, maintaining its position as the leading study of its kind in the RIA industry. In its eighteenth year, the study highlights the increasing focus on growth strategies, which contributed to strong performance in 2023. Specifically, organic growth has a direct tie to the gains seen as firms prioritized innovative tools and resources, defined their value proposition, and created tailored client experiences.
Media Contact: Kristin Meza
Modern Wealth Survey, June 2024
More than 60% of Americans feel they are in a better position to achieve their financial goals than the generations that came before them, according to Schwab’s eighth annual Modern Wealth Survey. One factor likely driving this positivity is a surge in the number of Americans investing in the stock market. Schwab’s survey shows that almost three in five Americans (58%) are investing today. In fact, when asked why they are in better financial shape than previous generations, the Schwab survey indicates that Americans believe they have more ways to build wealth, increased accessibility to investing and additional investment options available to them.
Media Contact: Hibah Shariff
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2024 Supported Independence Study, May 2024
To better understand how advisors navigate the journey to independence, Schwab Advisor Services commissioned the 2024 Supported Independence Study. We spoke to advisors who recently went independent, as well as those still determining if it’s the right move for them, about their attitudes toward, and experiences with, going independent. One key takeaway? Though the path to independence continues to evolve in new and surprising ways, one thing remains the same: Advisors seek independence because it offers them the freedom to build their business, their way. They are motivated to offer more comprehensive and product-agnostic services—and all with their clients’ best interests at heart. Another takeaway, however, is that advisors could use more support in both the decision-making and transitioning process.
Media Contact: Mike Peterson
Q2 2024 Trader Client Sentiment Report, May 2024
Sentiment among traders dipped in the second quarter of 2024 but remained higher than 2022 and 2023 levels according to the latest Charles Schwab Trader Sentiment Survey, a quarterly study that explores the outlooks, expectations, and perspectives of traders at Charles Schwab. Of those polled, 46% reported a bullish outlook on the U.S. stock market, down from 53% in the first quarter. Bearish sentiment varied by age, but compared to last quarter, increased significantly among young and mid-life investors, jumping more than 15% for each group.
Media Contact: Margaret Farrell
Q1 2024 Trader Client Sentiment Report, February 2024
Trader sentiment has turned bullish according to the latest Charles Schwab Trader Sentiment Survey, a quarterly study that explores the outlooks, expectations, and perspectives of traders at Charles Schwab. More than half of respondents (53%) report a bullish outlook on the U.S. stock market – the highest level since the survey began in 2021 and a significant increase from the 32% who were bullish in the fourth quarter of last year. Additionally, 49% of traders believe it’s a good time to invest in equities, up from 41% last quarter.
Media Contact: Margaret Farrell
2023 Research
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2023 RIA Compensation Report, December 2023
Schwab’s RIA Compensation Report reflects responses from Schwab’s 2023 RIA Benchmarking Study, the largest study of its kind, and offers a comprehensive look at compensation practices in the independent RIA industry. 1,044 firms participated in the compensation portion of the 2023 study, representing 80% of those that participated overall. Data was collected from January to March 2023 on over 14,500 employees across 27 roles typically found at RIAs.
Media Contact: Kristin Meza
Q4 2023 Trader Client Sentiment Report, November 2023
Sentiment among traders has turned bearish, but is still more bullish than it was this time last year, according to the latest Charles Schwab Trader Sentiment Survey, a quarterly study that explores the outlooks, expectations, and perspectives of traders at Charles Schwab and TD Ameritrade. The survey found 32% of traders are bullish on the U.S. stock market and 53% are bearish, compared to 44% who said they were bullish and 35% who said they were bearish in Q3. This time last year, only 18% were bullish on U.S. stocks and 68% were bearish.
Media Contact: Margaret Farrell
2023 Schwab Asset Management ETF Survey, October 2023
Schwab Asset Management, which has studied the attitudes and activity of ETF and non-ETF investors for more than a decade, found that despite a dramatically different investing environment from 2022, cool heads prevail among ETF investors this year. Most are staying the course or finding opportunities to increase investments in ETFs, and 80% of ETF investors agree that ETFs are their investment of choice. Fixed income has been in focus this year and surprisingly, Millennial ETF investors are gravitating toward this asset class more than their older peers. 2,000 individual investors participated in this year’s survey, 1,000 of whom have bought or sold ETFs in the past two years and 1,000 of whom have not bought or sold ETFs within the past two years.
Media Contact: Christine Underhill Hudacko
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2023 401(k) Participant Survey Part II - Gen Z Focus, October 2023
The youngest members of the workforce say they face the most obstacles to saving for a comfortable retirement, yet their timeline to ‘logging off’ for good is the most ambitious, according to Charles Schwab’s annual nationwide survey of 401(k) plan participants. Gen Z workers (21-26 years old) want to retire at age 61, but 99% say they are facing obstacles to saving for a comfortable retirement, a nine percent increase over last year and higher compared to 88% of Millennials, 91% of Gen X and 86% of Boomers.
Media Contact: Mike Peterson
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The Wisdom of the Crowd, October 2023
Conducted to commemorate the firm’s 50th anniversary, The Wisdom of the Crowd surveyed more than 3,000 Schwab clients, ranging from its most seasoned clients who opened their accounts in Schwab’s earliest days to those who have just recently ventured into investing. Among the study’s findings is a strong belief from its more seasoned investors that timeless investing principles such as persistence, diversification, early and regular investing, investing through different cycles, sticking with a plan—are keys to their success.
Media Contact: Alison Wertheim
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Q3 2023 Trader Client Sentiment Report, August 2023
After two consecutive quarters of recession anticipation, trader expectations are shifting to a more optimistic sentiment overall about the market environment. The latest Charles Schwab Trader Sentiment Survey reveals that traders are more bullish on the U.S. stock market than they were in the second quarter; for the next three months, 44% are bullish and 35% are bearish, compared to 32% bullish and 52% bearish in Q2.
Media Contact: Margaret Farrell
2023 401(k) Participant Survey, August 2023
Inflation and market volatility are impacting workers’ ability to save for retirement to a greater extent than last year, according to a new survey from Charles Schwab. The annual nationwide survey of 401(k) plan participants finds that 62% of workers see inflation as an obstacle to saving for a comfortable retirement, up from 45% last year, and 42% say stock market volatility is an obstacle, up from 33% last year. Despite these challenges, workers are maintaining their 401(k) savings rates. but they feel less confident about reaching their goals.
Media Contact: Mike Peterson
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2023 RIA Benchmarking Study, July 2023
Now in its seventeenth year, the RIA Benchmarking Study by Schwab Advisor Services is the leading study of its kind in the RIA industry. Despite the challenges of 2022, the Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) industry continues to be strong. Clients have been leaning on their advisors more than ever, and those relationships have helped contribute to organic growth through both referrals and share of wallet increases. This year’s study highlights growth and business performance and how firms are investing in digital tools and workflows that will create greater efficiencies, increase productivity, and create capacity so firms can provide personalized services through the lens of their ideal client. More than 1,300 independent advisor firms representing over $1.7 trillion in AUM participated in this year’s study.
Media Contact: Kristin Meza
Q2 2023 Trader Client Sentiment Report, June 2023
Sentiment among traders slipped in Q2 ‘23, but remains up from the lowest levels seen in 2022, and most remain confident in their decision-making and ability to reach their goals.
Media Contact: Margaret Farrell
Modern Wealth Survey, June 2023
There’s a wealth paradox in America, driven by the contrast between how people define wealth for themselves compared to how they define it for others, according to Schwab’s seventh annual Modern Wealth Survey. When asked to express how much money it takes to be considered “wealthy” in America, 1,000 survey respondents across the country say it’s an average of $2.2 million. But among the 48% of Americans who say they already feel wealthy today, the average net worth is $560,000—about a quarter of that loftier target. What’s more, non-financial assets like health and family resonate far more when defining wealth than having large sums of money, according to Schwab’s survey.
Media Contact: Hibah Shariff
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VIEW THE REPORTFACT SHEETS:
View the Atlanta fact sheet
View the Boston fact sheet
View the Chicago fact sheet
View the Dallas fact sheet
View the Denver fact sheet
View the Houston fact sheet
View the New York fact sheet
View the Phoenix fact sheet
View the San Francisco fact sheet
View the Seattle fact sheet
View the Southern California fact sheet
View the Washington, D.C. fact sheet
Independent Advisor Outlook Study-Spring 2023, March 2023
Schwab Advisor Services’ current Independent Advisor Outlook Study (IAOS) found that growth makes many aspects of running a firm easier, but not everything.
Media Contact: Kelly Cook
Q1 2023 Trader Client Sentiment Report, March 2023
As 2023 begins, sentiment is on an upswing among traders of every stripe, although it remains net-bearish. Traders are split on whether now is a good time to invest in equities but confidence in their decision-making and their ability to achieve their financial goals remains high.
Media Contact: Margaret Farrell
2022 Research
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2022 RIA Compensation Report, December 2022
Schwab’s RIA Compensation Report reflects responses from Schwab’s 2022 RIA Benchmarking Study, the largest study of its kind, and offers a comprehensive look at compensation practices in the independent RIA industry. 971 firms participated in the compensation portion of the 2022 study, representing 80% of those who participated overall. Data was collected from January to March 2022 on over 13,500 employees across 27 roles typically found at RIAs.
Media Contact: Kristin Meza
Q4 2022 Trader Client Sentiment Report, November 2022
The latest Charles Schwab Trader Client Sentiment Survey reveals that nearly 60% of traders say it feels like the U.S. is in an economic recession or will be by the end of 2022. Most (55%) say it will last less than one year, but 45% say it will last longer than that. While traders have a predominantly bearish outlook for the U.S. stock market over the next few months, they are confident in their ability to navigate the environment and 91% of traders feel they will reach their financial goals. Still, more than four in 10 traders (42%) are taking on less risk in the current environment.
Media Contact: Margaret Farrell
2022 401(k) Participant Survey Part II, October 2022
Young workers are relying on more than their 401(k)s to save for retirement as other types of investments play a greater role in their long-term wealth plans, according to the annual nationwide survey of 401(k) plan participants from Schwab Retirement Plan Services. While the 401(k) remains the top retirement savings vehicle for today’s workers overall, Gen Z and Millennial workers are more likely to also invest in cryptocurrency, real estate, annuities, and small businesses, unlike older generations.
Media Contact: Mike Peterson
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VIEW THE DETAILED FINDINGS2022 Schwab Asset Management ETF Survey, September 2022
Schwab Asset Management, which has studied the attitudes and activity of ETF investors for more than a decade, found that ETF investors continue to view ETFs as a key part of their portfolios, with 80% saying ETFs are their vehicle of choice. ETFs now make up 33% of ETF investor portfolios. ETF investors have continued investing in ETFs despite this year’s turbulent markets and foresee the product making up a larger share of their portfolios in the future. At the same time, they are also interested in exploring investing options that allow them to personalize their portfolios. 2,000 individual investors participated in this year’s survey, 1,000 of whom have bought or sold ETFs in the past two years and 1,000 of whom have not bought or sold ETFs within the past two years.
Media Contact: Christine Hudacko
Q3 2022 Trader Client Sentiment Report, August 2022
The latest Charles Schwab Trader Client Sentiment Survey reveals that nine in 10 traders see a U.S. economic recession as somewhat to highly likely and 74% anticipate it will begin this year. The potential of a recession is now the primary concern for 18% of traders, up 6% from the previous quarter. However, a strong majority (69%) expect that a recession would last a year or less and only one in five are moving money out of the stock market to hedge against a continued down market or recession. Many traders also plan to add money to their portfolios at the same rate as last quarter (40%) and most say they are taking the same or slightly less risk in Q3 (59%).
Media Contact: Margaret Farrell
2022 401(k) Participant Survey, July 2022
Inflation is now the top obstacle to saving for a comfortable retirement, according to a new survey from Schwab Retirement Plan Services. The annual nationwide survey of 401(k) plan participants finds that workers rank inflation (45%) ahead of other obstacles including keeping up with monthly expenses (35%), stock market volatility (33%), and unexpected expenses (33%). Workers believe they’ll need to save an average of $1.7 million for retirement, down from $1.9 million reported in last year’s survey, and just under half (47%) feel they are very likely to reach their retirement savings goal.
Media Contact: Mike Peterson
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VIEW THE DETAILED FINDINGS2022 RIA Benchmarking Study, July 2022
Now in its sixteenth year, the RIA Benchmarking Study by Schwab Advisor Services is the leading study of its kind in the RIA industry. Talent continues to be top of mind for independent advisory firms and it will continue to be one of the most prominent issues for the industry going forward. This year’s study highlights growth and business performance and how talent will be a top strategic priority to continue momentum for RIA firms. More than 1,200 independent advisor firms representing over $1.8 trillion in AUM participated in this year’s study.
Media Contact: Kristin Meza
2022 Modern Wealth Survey, May 2022
Almost three-quarters of Americans (73%) say their personal values guide how they make life decisions more today than they did two years ago, and nearly an equal number (69%) say that supporting causes they care most about are a top consideration when it comes to their financial decisions, according to Schwab’s sixth annual Modern Wealth Survey, an examination of how Americans think about saving, spending, investing and wealth.
Media Contact: Hibah Shariff
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VIEW THE REPORTFACT SHEETS:
View the Atlanta fact sheet
View the Boston fact sheet
View the Chicago fact sheet
View the Dallas fact sheet
View the Denver fact sheet
View the Houston fact sheet
View the New York fact sheet
View the Phoenix fact sheet
View the San Francisco fact sheet
View the Seattle fact sheet
View the Southern California fact sheet
View the Washington, D.C. fact sheetQ2 2022 Trader Client Sentiment Report, May 2022
The latest Charles Schwab Trader Sentiment Survey reveals that more than half (53%) of traders say the market is due for a significant correction in the second quarter of 2022, and fewer than a third (30%) think the market will perform well. Six in 10 (61%) traders remain confident in their investment decision-making, although less than half (43%) feel it’s a good time to invest in equities. Chief among traders’ concerns are inflation and the geopolitical landscape, and they’re taking specific actions to hedge against both. While most traders (68%) expect sooner relief, nearly one third (32%) of traders don’t expect inflation to ease until 2024 at the earliest.
Media Contact: Margaret Farrell
Retirement Reimagined Study, April 2022
Millennials have an evolving vision of retirement, different from previous generations, according to Schwab’s new Retirement Reimagined Study that uses advanced predictive modeling techniques to forecast key differences in how Millennials, Gen X and Boomers will approach saving for and living in retirement. The first of its kind study also projects four distinct retirement personas that Millennials could fall into as many of them transition to retirement around 2050.
Media Contact: Hibah Shariff
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VIEW THE SURVEY FINDINGS2022 Ariel-Schwab Black Investor Survey, April 2022
The results of the 2022 Ariel-Schwab Black Investor Survey reveal investor participation is at historic lows for both Black and white Americans. For 24 years, Ariel Investments and Charles Schwab have studied the investing and saving attitudes and behaviors of Black and white Americans.
Media Contact: Stephanie Corns
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VIEW THE SURVEY FINDINGSQ1 2022 Trader Client Sentiment Report, February 2022
The latest Charles Schwab Trader Sentiment Survey reveals that bulls outnumber bears among active traders, with 46% reporting a bullish outlook for the U.S. stock market for the first three months of the year compared with 39% who are bearish. But nearly nine out of ten (88%) traders are concerned about inflation and many are taking action to hedge against it. At the sector level, traders are most bullish on Energy (63%), Finance (57%), and Health Care (54%) and most bearish on Information Technology (38%), Real Estate (37%), and Consumer Discretionary (31%).
Media Contact: Margaret Farrell
2021 RIA Compensation Report, February 2022
Schwab Advisor Services’ RIA Compensation Report reflects responses from the annual RIA Benchmarking Study and offers a comprehensive look at compensation practices in the independent financial advice industry. A total of 1,036 firms participated in the compensation portion in 2021, representing over three-quarters of those who participated in the overall study (1,340 firms).
Media Contact: Meredith Richard
2022 Independent Advisor Outlook Study, January 2022
Schwab Advisor Services’ current Independent Advisor Outlook Study (IAOS) provides a snapshot on growth for firms, clients and managing talent.
Media Contact: Meredith Richard
2021 Research
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RIA Industry M&A: Behind the Numbers, October 2021
Almost $160 billion in total AUM has been acquired in the first six months of this year, an increase of 19% over 2020 and 23% over 2019. The transaction data alone only tells part of the story, however. Behind the numbers, M&A is a very human endeavor. This report features perspectives from buyers and sellers in five recent transactions for a closer look at what is happening beyond the data.
Media Contact: Meredith Richard
2021 Assets in Motion Report, October 2021
This new study from Charles Schwab analyzes the movement to independence as well as RIA industry mergers and acquisitions.
Media Contact: Meredith Richard
Digital Investing & Technology Survey, September 2021
COVID-19 has accelerated the adoption of technology across many aspects of life, from virtual birthday parties to appointments with financial advisors by video chat, according to a new study by Charles Schwab. Schwab’s Investing and Technology Survey 2021 uncovers how the pandemic has fundamentally shifted the way investors manage their money and other financial activities.
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VIEW THE FINDINGS2021 401(k) Participant Survey Part II – Meet the Gen Z 401(k) Participant, September 2021
Stress about finances has had an outsized impact on the ability of Gen Z and Millennials to do their jobs during the pandemic, according to the annual nationwide survey of 401(k) plan participants from Schwab Retirement Plan Services. Almost half of Gen Z workers (44%) and 38% of Millennials reported that financial stress impacted their ability to do their jobs this past year, compared to 24% of all workers.
Media Contact: Mike Peterson
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VIEW THE FINDINGS2021 RIA Benchmarking Study, July 2021
The RIA Benchmarking Study by Schwab Advisor Services is the leading study of its kind in the RIA industry. The study features insights based on self-reported information on topics such as asset and revenue growth, sources of new clients, products and pricing, staffing, compensation, marketing, technology, and financial performance. Now in its fifteenth year, more than 1,300 independent advisor firms representing over $1.5 trillion in AUM participated in this year’s study.
Media Contact: Meredith Richard
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VIEW INSIGHTS FOR FIRMS UP TO $100M IN ASSETS
VIEW INSIGHTS FOR FIRMS OVER $1B IN ASSETS2021 401(k) Participant Survey, June 2021
Workers’ confidence about achieving retirement goals has risen sharply since last year according to a new survey from Schwab Retirement Plan Services, and so has their appetite for financial advice. The annual nationwide survey of 401(k) plan participants finds that more than half (53%) say they are very likely to achieve their retirement goals, compared to 37% in 2020. On average, plan participants in 2021 believe they need to save $1.9 million for retirement, the same amount as in 2020. Ninety-one percent say their financial health is very good or pretty good.
Media Contact: Mike Peterson
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VIEW THE FINDINGSIndependent Advisor Outlook Study, June 2021
Schwab Advisor Services’ current Independent Advisor Outlook Study (IAOS) provides a snapshot on the outlook for industry and firm growth, a look into the new realities for firms post-COVID, and insight into how advisors view innovation.
Media Contact: Meredith Richard
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VIEW THE FINDINGSModern Wealth Survey, May 2021
As vaccination rates rise and restrictions ease across the country, a majority of Americans feel optimistic about the state of the United States overall, including the economy, the stock market and their personal financial prospects, according to Schwab’s 2021 Modern Wealth Survey, an annual examination of how 1,000 Americans think about saving, spending, investing and wealth.
Media Contact: Hibah Shariff
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VIEW THE RESULTSFACTSHEETS:
View the Boston factsheet
View the Chicago factsheet
View the Dallas factsheet
View the Denver factsheet
View the Houston factsheet
View the Los Angeles/Orange County factsheet
View the New York City factsheet
View the Phoenix factsheet
View the San Francisco Bay Area factsheet
View the Seattle factsheet
View the Southwest Florida factsheet
View the Washington, D.C. factsheetGeneration Investor Study, April 2021
Amidst a global pandemic, economic uncertainties and market volatility, a new generation of investors was born: 15 percent of all current U.S. stock market investors say they first began investing in 2020, according to a new Schwab survey. And they’re not all young and focused on the next hot stock. Looking ahead, these new investors are more bullish about their financial prospects and the market than those who began investing before 2020, and they’re ready to invest and plan for their futures.
Media Contact: Hibah Shariff
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VIEW THE REPORT2020 ETF Investor Study, March 2021
ETF investors surveyed see the share of ETFs in their portfolios growing to 38% over the next five years, up from 29% today. Nearly all ETF investors (94%) say they are likely to purchase ETFs in the next two years. Notably, nearly half of the non-ETF investors surveyed (45%) say they are likely to purchase ETFs in the next two years.
Media Contact: Erin Montgomery
READ THE PRESS RELEASE
VIEW THE REPORT2020 RIA Compensation Report, February 2021
Schwab Advisor Services’ RIA Compensation Report reflects responses from the annual RIA Benchmarking Study and offers a comprehensive look at compensation practices in the independent financial advice industry. A total of 761 firms participated in the compensation portion in 2020, representing three-quarters of those who participated in the overall study (1,010 firms).
Media Contact: Meredith Richard
Ariel-Schwab 2020 Black Investor Survey, February 2021
The results of the 2020 Ariel-Schwab Black Investor Survey reveal that Black Americans are not benefitting from stock market growth at the same rate as white Americans at similar income levels. For more than 20 years, the Ariel-Schwab Black Investor Survey has compared attitudes and behaviors on saving and investing among Black and white Americans.
Media Contact: Stephanie Corns
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VIEW THE SURVEY FINDINGS
VIEW GENDER-RACE SURVEY FINDINGS
VIEW HISTORICAL SURVEY DATASchwab RIA Industry Transactions Research for Second Half of 2020, February 2021
M&A volumes bounced back in the second half of 2020, and equity valuations continued to rise. Despite the pandemic and market volatility, 2020 saw the largest average M&A deal size on record.
Media Contact: Meredith Richard
2020 Research
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2020 Robo Investor Snapshot, November 2020
Schwab released its 2020 Robo Investor Snapshot which reveals Schwab robo client trends around planning, volatility, and portfolio actions.
Independent Advisor Outlook Study, Part II, October 2020
In 2020, independent advisors have experienced challenges in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. But they remain confident in the success of their firms, and in the industry’s continued long-term growth. Find out more in the results from the latest Independent Advisor Outlook Study (IAOS).
Media Contact: Meredith Richard
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VIEW THE FINDINGSSchwab RIA Industry Transactions Research for First Half of 2020, October 2020
Deal volumes dropped sharply in March, April, and May, but started to rebound in June.
Media Contact: Meredith Richard
2020 Equity Compensation Survey, October 2020
New research from Schwab Stock Plan Services shows the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on equity compensation plan participants’ decisions. The survey finds that of those who recently exercised or sold equity compensation, two-thirds (67%) were influenced by the market volatility and economic downturn related to the pandemic. The survey also finds that almost two in five (39%) survey respondents say that they are more likely to need financial advice due to the pandemic.
Media Contact: Mike Peterson
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VIEW THE RESULTSIndependent Advisor Outlook Study, October 2020
Schwab Advisor Services released the results of the 28th Wave of its Independent Advisor Outlook Study (IAOS), which reflects responses from 942 registered investment advisors (RIAs) whose assets are custodied with Schwab.
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VIEW SURVEY FINDINGS2020 Modern Retirement Survey, October 2020
Amidst a global pandemic, economic uncertainties and an election looming, Boomers invested for retirement are confident that they will still enjoy their golden years. According to the Charles Schwab 2020 Modern Retirement Survey, more than 80 percent of both those who have retired and those who are soon-to-retire are satisfied or confident their lifestyle will be everything that they envision.
Media Contact: Hibah Shariff
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READ THE PRESS RELEASE – VETERAN RESPONDENTS
VIEW SURVEY FINDINGS2020 401(k) Participant Survey Part II – Retirement Saving and Spending, September 2020
The area where 401(k) participants say they could most use help is understanding how much they’ll need to save for retirement, according to a nationwide survey of 1,000 401(k) plan participants from Schwab Retirement Plan Services. Over two thirds (68%) of participants gave an estimate of how long their retirement savings will last, with the average being 24 years. The remaining 32% say they do not know how many years their retirement savings might last, and the level of uncertainty is higher among women (40%) than men (25%).
Media Contact: Mike Peterson
READ THE PRESS RELEASE
VIEW THE RESULTS2020 401(k) Participant Survey, August 2020
Anxiety about long-term retirement savings is up according to a new survey from Schwab Retirement Plan Services, and so is participant engagement. The nationwide survey of 1,000 currently employed 401(k) plan participants finds that saving enough for a comfortable retirement continues to be their leading source of significant financial stress. On average, these 401(k) participants believe they need to save $1.9 million for retirement, an increase of 12% from the $1.7 million reported in 2019. Two in five participants also say they made a change to their 401(k) account due to COVID-19, citing rebalancing and increasing contribution rates as the most common changes.
Media Contact: Mike Peterson
READ THE PRESS RELEASE
VIEW THE RESULTS2020 RIA Benchmarking Study, July 2020
The RIA Benchmarking Study by Schwab Advisor Services is the leading study of its kind in the RIA industry. The study features insights based on self-reported information on topics such as asset and revenue growth, sources of new clients, products and pricing, staffing, compensation, marketing, technology, and financial performance. Now in its fourteenth year, more than 1,000 independent advisor firms representing over a trillion dollars in AUM participated in this year’s study.
Media Contact: Meredith Richard
VIEW THE FINDINGS
VIEW THE FINDINGS (FIRMS WITH UP TO $100M AUM)
VIEW THE FINDINGS (FIRMS WITH $1B OR MORE IN AUM)
VIEW THE INTERACTIVE DATA VISUALIZATIONModern Wealth Survey, July 2020
According to Charles Schwab’s 2020 Modern Wealth Survey, an annual examination of perspectives on saving, spending, investing and wealth, 57 percent of Americans say that they or a close family member have been financially impacted by COVID-19, but at the same time, there are some silver linings when it comes to people’s financial behaviors. Thirty-six percent of Americans say they are more likely to have savings to cover emergency expenses, and 40 percent say they are more likely to be saving more in general compared to before the pandemic outbreak in the U.S.
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VIEW LOS ANGELES FACT SHEET
VIEW WASHINGTON, D.C. FACT SHEET
VIEW PHOENIX FACT SHEETSchwab RIA Industry Transactions Research for Year-End 2019, March 2020
The RIA Industry saw record-setting M&A volume, with 106 deals completed in 2019.
Media Contact: Meredith Richard
Schwab RIA Compensation Report, February 2020
Schwab Advisor Services’ RIA Compensation Report reflects responses from the annual RIA Benchmarking Study and offers a comprehensive look at compensation practices in the independent financial advice industry. A total of 984 firms participated in the compensation portion, representing three-quarters of those who participated in the overall study (1,310 firms).
Media Contact: Meredith Richard
Based on an online survey of U.S. workers eligible for a workplace 401(k) plan, half of whom are actively saving in it and half of whom are not, conducted by Koski Research for Schwab Retirement Plan Services, Inc. Koski Research is neither affiliated with, nor employed by, Schwab Retirement Plan Services, Inc. The survey is based on 1,000 interviews and has a 3% margin of error at the 95% confidence level. Survey respondents worked for companies with at least 25 employees and were 25–70 years old. Survey respondents were not asked to indicate whether they had 401(k) accounts with Schwab Retirement Plan Services, Inc. All data is self-reported by study participants and is not verified or validated. Respondents participated in the study between June 2 and June 18, 2017. Schwab Retirement Plan Services, Inc. is a subsidiary of the Charles Schwab Corporation.
Investors should consider carefully information contained in the prospectus, including investment objectives, risk, charges, and expenses. You can request a prospectus by calling Schwab at 800-435-4000. Please read the prospectus carefully before investing.
Investment returns will fluctuate and are subject to market volatility, so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed or sold, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Unlike mutual funds, shares of ETFs are not individually redeemable directly with the ETF. Shares are bought and sold at market price, which may be higher or lower than the net asset value (NAV).