Schwab IMPACT 2025: Charles Schwab CEO on Forge Acquisition & Rise of Gen Z Investors

Core Insights - Charles Schwab announced the acquisition of Forge Global for $660 million, aiming to democratize access to private investments for its 46 million clients [1][12] - The company reported record profits, revenues, and new accounts, with a year-over-year growth of 40% in client growth and 27% in revenues [1][12] - The firm is focusing on young investors, with one-third of new households being Gen Zers, and is actively marketing on platforms like TikTok and YouTube [2][3] Acquisition Details - The acquisition of Forge Global is intended to provide clients access to private investments, a market valued at $9 trillion [1] - The integration will allow Schwab to offer a 40act fund indexing the 60 largest private companies in the U.S. in the first quarter of next year [1] - Clients will also have the option to invest in individual private companies like SpaceX and Anthropic [1] Financial Performance - The company achieved all-time high earnings and record trading volumes, executing 7.5 million trades daily [7][12] - The focus on client satisfaction has led to significant growth, with a strategy centered on understanding client needs [1][12] Young Investor Engagement - Schwab is successfully attracting younger investors, providing a robust platform and educational resources tailored to their needs [2][3] - The firm is the most followed financial services company on YouTube, indicating strong engagement with younger demographics [3] Crypto Strategy - There has been a 90% increase in visits to Schwab's crypto research site, with clients owning 20% of all crypto exchange-traded products in the U.S. [11] - Plans to launch access to spot crypto in the first half of next year are underway, responding to client interest in the asset class [11][12] Branch Expansion - The company is expanding its branch footprint to enhance local client relationships, which has been shown to increase client satisfaction and net new assets [16]