2021 RIA Compensation Report
Schwab’s RIA Compensation Report reflects responses from Schwab’s 2021 RIA Benchmarking Study, the largest study of its kind, and offers a comprehensive look at compensation practices in the independent RIA industry.
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Key findings
- People are a firm’s most important asset and continue to be the largest investment for RIAs, comprising 71% of a firm’s expenses.
- A firm’s compensation strategy, especially incentives, can help drive overall firm goals when aligned with the firm’s strategic plan.
- Firms can ensure they have a compelling compensation strategy and a well-defined employee value proposition to help differentiate them in a competitive labor market.
- Fostering inclusive and equitable employee experiences can optimize a firm’s talent pipeline.

About the report
Schwab’s RIA Benchmarking Study is the leading study in the industry — 1,036 advisory firms participated in the compensation portion of the 2021 study, representing over three-quarters of those who participated overall (1,340 firms). Data was collected from January to March 2021 on nearly 13,000 employees across 27 roles typically found at RIAs.
For inquiries, email Schwab Public Relations.
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