Managing Your Business

The RIA Benchmarking Study

Celebrating 20 years of advisor insights.

For 20 years, thousands of advisors have relied on Schwab's RIA Benchmarking Study to gain valuable, data-driven insights—helping them assess their business, discover new opportunities, and grow their firms. Participate this year to receive your own customized results.

The 2026 study opens January 21! See how to participate including timing, the benefits for your firm, and what you'll receive as a participant. 

Your quick guide to the Benchmarking Study

The number one reason that we participate in the Benchmarking Study, and will continue to, is that it provides us with an objective, reliable, consistent source of data against which we can measure ourselves, and, hopefully, make good decisions. 

I'm Ben Dickey. I am one of the founders and principals of Resident Capital Advisors, a registered investment advisory firm in Madison, Wisconsin. 

We have used the Benchmarking Study data consistently to evaluate the growth of our firm. In particular, we have honed in on two particular data points. The first is the growth in assets from our existing clients. We're never more proud than when an existing client entrusts us with more of their capital to manage. The other is the growth of new assets from new clients. And when we put, of course, the two of those together, and also measure attrition, we have a very good view of how we're doing. And we have really used the metric of additions by existing clients to reinforce coaching points about client service, about communication, about technical specialties across the entirety of our employee base. 

We have seen such incredible accretive benefit from participating initially, and then year over year. I think that there is almost no argument that would convince me that an independent firm should not participate in the study if they have the option to. In fact, I would probably encourage many of them to participate at the expense of other things that they may be doing. That's how great I think the value is.
Video Transcript

Actionable insights, year over year

The number one reason that we participate in the Benchmarking Study, and will continue to, is that it provides us with an objective, reliable, consistent source of data against which we can measure ourselves, and, hopefully, make good decisions. 

I'm Ben Dickey. I am one of the founders and principals of Resident Capital Advisors, a registered investment advisory firm in Madison, Wisconsin. 

We have used the Benchmarking Study data consistently to evaluate the growth of our firm. In particular, we have honed in on two particular data points. The first is the growth in assets from our existing clients. We're never more proud than when an existing client entrusts us with more of their capital to manage. The other is the growth of new assets from new clients. And when we put, of course, the two of those together, and also measure attrition, we have a very good view of how we're doing. And we have really used the metric of additions by existing clients to reinforce coaching points about client service, about communication, about technical specialties across the entirety of our employee base. 

We have seen such incredible accretive benefit from participating initially, and then year over year. I think that there is almost no argument that would convince me that an independent firm should not participate in the study if they have the option to. In fact, I would probably encourage many of them to participate at the expense of other things that they may be doing. That's how great I think the value is.

Get a sneak peek at the 2026 study questions

With the study opening soon, now is the perfect time to gather your data so you're prepared to participate when the study opens. 

View the questions

Make participation even easier

Review this simple checklist to make sure you have everything you need before the study begins. It's an easy way to save time and get the most from your experience. 

See the checklist

Benchmark your firm your way

The Benchmarking Results Dashboard lets participants select their own comparison groups, giving them control over their benchmarks and access to the data most meaningful to their firm. 

Explore now

Get an inside look at the study

Study overview >

Frequently asked questions >

See how your peers use the study >

How to participate in benchmarking >

Study questions >

Study checklist >

 

RIA Benchmarking Study timeline • Late December - Gather your firm's data. • Mid-January - Receive the study invitation. • January-March - Submit your data and review initial insights. • Early March - Study is closed. • March–May - Results are analyzed and prepared. • Summer - Explore your Benchmarking Results Dashboard. • Summer - Access your compensation report and tool. • Fall - Review the benchmarking white papers.

From the archives

The largest study in the registered investment advisor (RIA) industry is also the most respected—with good reason. Take a look back and see what's pushing firms forward.

2025

2025 Main Study White Paper >

2025 Compensation Study White Paper

2024

2024 Main Study White Paper >

2024 Compensation Study White Paper

Data to inform your critical decisions

Why does this firm consider the RIA Benchmarking Study an essential tool for their business? Because "the data points are critical to making good business decisions." Learn how they do it.

Read the case study >

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The Benchmarking Study is a requirement in order to keep our business managed in an optimal way and growing as best we can.

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Ben Dickey and Mike Amash are clients of Schwab and are not compensated for their comments. The experiences described may not be the experience of all clients and is not a guarantee of future performance or success. 

About the RIA Benchmarking Study from Charles Schwab

Schwab designed the RIA Benchmarking Study to capture insights in the RIA industry based on survey responses from individual firms. The 2025 study provides information on topics such as asset and revenue growth, sources of new clients, products and pricing, staffing, compensation, marketing, technology, and financial performance. Fielded from January to March 2025, the study contains self-reported data from 1,288 firms that custody their assets with Schwab and represents over $2.4 trillion in assets under management, making this the leading study in the RIA industry. Schwab did not independently verify or validate the self-reported information. Participant firms represent various sizes and business models. The study is part of Schwab Business Consulting and Education, a practice management offering for RIAs. Grounded in the best practices of leading independent advisory firms, Business Consulting and Education provides insight, guidance, tools, and resources to help RIAs strategically manage and grow their firms.

Past performance is not an indicator of future results.

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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.

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