Are Schwab’s independent branches an opportunity or a threat to RIAs?
For RIAs with financially profitable practices that meet their lifestyle needs, I think owning a franchise would take them back a few steps.
National Association of Personal Finance Advisors
Association
Top Executive: Geof Brown, CAE
Frederick Van Den Abbeel
I believe there is a very simple question to determine if your custody provider competes against you. It is simply: “Do you operate a retail side?” It seems with all of this side-stepping around the issue and walking on egg shells I’d have more respect if they simply said “Yes” — we do compete than try to denounce the obvious.
Elmer Rich III
Is the glass half full or half empty? Both. The direct to consumer brand power of Schwab blows away any local of individual RIA branding. The scales and, perhaps, market segments, may be completely separate and not cross much. If a client wants the “security” of a big brand they can go direct.
The question of cannibalization is one that deserves some study. If we were on the Schwab BOD we would have wanted to see research on this before decisions were made. It sounds like it was Ready, Fire, Aim.
It seems realistic to assume there will be warring inside of Schwab between the two divisions.
