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Schwab Leaders to RIA's: The Opportunities Have Never Been Greater

Submitted by Technology Tools for Today on June 26th, 2013

During its annual EXPLORE event last week, Charles Schwab CEO Walt Bettinger and head of Schwab Advisor Services Bernie Clark commended independent registered investment advisors (RIAs) for their thriving business model and uncompromising focus on serving clients, and shared with them an enthusiastic outlook for the future of the RIA space. Bettinger and Clark also spoke about the potential challenges ahead as RIAs continue to grow, including increased regulation and industry complexity, emerging new competition and a changing client base. Recognizing the landscape facing RIAs, Schwab unveiled several updates and new initiatives aimed at helping RIAs secure their success well into the next generation of RIA firms and clients.

Schwab's Walt Bettinger, President and CEO and Bernie Clark, EVP, Advisor Services at EXPLORE 2013 conference

"We want to collaborate with RIAs in their growth and success, in the same way that RIAs play a crucial role in Schwab's success," said Bettinger. "In addition to our goal of being the best, safest place for RIAs to keep their client assets, we are also committed to delivering innovative strategies and resources that help RIAs to continue to thrive."

New initiatives and updates announced during EXPLORE include:

  • Differentiate the RIA model: Schwab invited advisors to participate in a new, searchable directory of independent registered investment advisor firms on its RIA Stands For You site. RIA firms that custody with Schwab are eligible to sign up to participate in the directory, which is slated to be available to individual investors later this year. The online directory is the latest addition to Schwab's RIA Stands For You campaign, which launched in 2011 to help investors better understand the benefits of the independent RIA model. The website includes educational information to help investors who are seeking an advisor.

"RIA Stands For You was launched to help RIAs tell a clear story about what makes their model different, and to educate and inform investors about the choices available to them," said Clark. "The addition of the advisor directory means that investors visiting RIA Stands for You will now be able to go beyond education and find an RIA they can work with in their local area."

  • Next Generation Leaders: At EXPLORE Clark announced that Schwab's Executive Leadership Program will begin in January 2014. The program will help prepare promising leaders to manage and grow their RIA firms, and will include curriculum that covers five key competency areas: Leadership, Innovation, Talent Management, Strategic Marketing and Entrepreneurship. The program will feature content and faculty from several of the nation's leading universities as well as insights from RIA firm leaders. -- Deeper technology integration: Schwab announced new participants in Schwab OpenView GatewayTM, from Schwab Intelligent Technologies(TM), adding depth and breadth to Schwab's technology offer for advisors. New additions to Gateway include Envestnet | Tamarac's Advisor Rebalancing(R) application, PIEtech's MoneyGuidePro and Zywave's NaviPro Planning Suite(TM) which introduce financial planning and trading and rebalancing integration to the program.
     
  • Client Service: Since the beginning of the year, Schwab has made significant progress on its previously announced Client Experience initiative. This has included various enhancements to Schwab Alliance, such as improvements to RIA customization and a streamlined enrollment process, allowing RIAs to get new clients up and running on the platform within an hour. Later this year, Schwab will begin piloting new solutions for both electronic signature and electronic authorization that will enable significant productivity gains for RIAs in day to day transaction areas such as account open and money movement, while also enhancing their end-clients' experience.

"Schwab is committed to fueling sustainable RIA growth for generations to come by supporting firms as the industry evolves," said Clark. "Whether it is how they lead and manage their firms, the way they interact with clients, or how they operate their business day-to-day, these initiatives all help RIAs capture the opportunities at hand and prepare for a future that is still taking shape."

Independent investment advisors are not owned by, affiliated with or supervised by Charles Schwab & Co. Inc. The mention of the above firms is not, and should not be construed as a recommendation, endorsement or sponsorship by Schwab. These firm are not affiliated with or an employee of Schwab.

Schwab Intelligent Technologies(TM) is a subsidiary of The Charles Schwab Corporation and an affiliate of Charles Schwab & Co. Inc.

About Charles Schwab

At Charles Schwab we believe in the power of investing to help individuals create a better tomorrow. We have a history of challenging the status quo in our industry, innovating in ways that benefit investors and the advisors and employers who serve them, and championing our clients' goals with passion and integrity.

More information is available at www.aboutschwab.com.

Disclosures

Through its operating subsidiaries, The Charles Schwab Corporation (NYSE: SCHW) provides a full range of securities brokerage, banking, money management and financial advisory services to individual investors and independent investment advisors. Its broker-dealer subsidiary, Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. (member SIPC, www.sipc.org), and affiliates offer a complete range of investment services and products including an extensive selection of mutual funds; financial planning and investment advice; retirement plan and equity compensation plan services; compliance and trade monitoring solutions; referrals to independent fee-based investment advisors; and custodial, operational and trading support for independent, fee-based investment advisors through Schwab Advisor Services. Its banking subsidiary, Charles Schwab Bank (member FDIC and an Equal Housing Lender), provides banking and lending services and products. More information is available at www.schwab.com and www.aboutschwab.com.

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