Helping the next generation start investing the right way

For decades, Schwab's mission has been simple: to help people start investing, and to do so in a healthy, thoughtful, and responsible way that can build lasting wealth over time.

Today, we're taking another meaningful step to advance that mission with the launch of the Schwab Teen Investor^TM account—a new way for teens to start investing with the guidance and involvement of their parents.

This launch is about more than a new account. It's about how the next generation begins their investing journey, and the habits and mindset they develop along the way.

As both a leader at Schwab and a parent, I spend a lot of time thinking about how we can set young people up for long-term success—not just in investing, but in decision‑making and confidence‑building. That's exactly why this moment matters.

With each new generation, people start investing at a younger age, and experienced investors consistently tell us they wish they'd started sooner.

Our recent research shows that both teens and their parents are highly motivated:

• 70% of teens say they are very or extremely interested in investing.
• 73% of parents believe it's very important for teens to learn about investing.
• 87% want their parents involved, and trust them more than any other source of guidance.
• 91% of parents want to help.

This dynamic mirrors what I saw at home as my boys grew up and got more curious about money, markets, and how to make smart investing decisions. I felt a responsibility then, and still do now, not to give them all the answers, but to give them the tools and guardrails to explore responsibly.

It's an incredibly exciting time to be a new investor as there has never been greater access to markets, information, product choices, and tools. But greater access also brings greater complexity and the need to provide resources and education to help investors of all ages sort through it all and make investing decisions based on their goals.

Many young investors are understandably intrigued by opportunities that promise quick wins or outsized returns. And too often, the lines are getting blurred between investing and gambling. I've written about this before and feel strongly that it's critical—especially for young investors—to recognize and understand the difference.

Recently we've seen evidence that sports-based event contracts on prediction markets are leading some teenagers to begin their financial lives by making bets. This only underscores for us why it's so important to start on the right foot.

And we believe that requires striking the right balance of education, independence, and parental involvement.

Starting early is powerful. Starting early with intention can be transformational.

While today's announcement focuses on teens, our broader goal extends much further. We want to help young investors build good habits and set them up for a lifetime of informed decisions and meaningful outcomes.

Last year, roughly two-thirds of new clients at Schwab were Gen Z or Millennials. I'm inspired by the eagerness and sophistication of these young people. They're engaged. They're curious. And they want to take ownership of their financial futures.

And I couldn't be more proud of the role we play—not just as a firm, but as parents, mentors, and guides.