Why Schwab

Making your move to the RIA model

Take the first step toward becoming an independent Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) with Schwab Advisor Services™. We bring guidance, award-winning tools, and resources shaped by decades of helping advisors like you. Ready? Let's get started.

How Schwab helps you get up and running quickly

Every change comes with unknowns. From your first conversation with a Business Development Officer (BDO), they're by your side. They can help you lock in on your goals, develop your vision for your firm, and connect you with the teams and resources that help bring your vision to life. From consultants to tech to onboarding, your BDO can help you access the support you need to move forward with confidence.

Consulting that turns your ideas into action

We've helped 6,500 firms get their start in the last decade alone,1 and that knowledge and experience inform everything we do. From tech offers to growth strategies, we can help you make a plan and see it through.

Explore business consulting

Tech that helps you serve better and grow smarter

Your technology should make running and growing your business easier. That's why we built a platform with award-winning tools, giving you the power to create your ideal tech stack using third-party integrations.

Learn about our flexible technology

Streamlined and secure digital onboarding

You need a way to set clients up at your new firm that's quick and secure. Schwab's onboarding tools offer digital workflows that can save time and minimize errors.

See how we open accounts in minutes

See what it takes to make the move

From defining your business strategy to safeguarding against risk, setting up your office, and converting your accounts, The RIA Roadmap helps you explore the ins and outs of moving to the independent model.

View the white paper

Plug into the power of Schwab

Whether you're evaluating independence or preparing to make a move, our resources and solutions are designed to support your vision. Backed by our team of passionate, experienced professionals, you'll have what you need to pursue your next big opportunity.

Ready to make your move? We've got you.

Your dream is bigger than any to-do list. Reach out to a Schwab BDO to talk through what independence as an RIA could mean for you and how we can help you work through each item on your action plan.

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1. Sales SSO Data, as of April 2025.

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Third-party firms and their employees are not affiliated with or employed by Schwab. Their mention should not be construed as a recommendation, endorsement, or sponsorship by Schwab. The views expressed are those of the third parties and are provided for informational purposes only. The experiences shared are no guarantee of future performance or success and may not be representative of you or your experience. Third-party trademarks are the property of their respective owners and used with their permission.

Schwab does not provide investment planning, legal, regulatory, tax, or compliance advice. Consult professionals in these fields to address your specific circumstances.

Schwab Advisor Services™ provides custody, trading, and the support services of Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. ("Schwab"), member SIPC, to independent investment advisors and Charles Schwab Investment Management, Inc. ("CSIM").

Independent investment advisors are not owned by, affiliated with or supervised by Schwab.

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