Schwab's 2026 Independent Advisor Outlook Study: RIAs Embrace What's New Without Losing What Sets the Industry Apart

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The Charles Schwab Corporation. (2026, October 29). Schwab's 2026 Independent Advisor Outlook Study: RIAs embrace what's new without losing what sets the industry apart [Press release]. https://pressroom.aboutschwab.com/press-releases/press-release/2026/Schwabs-2026-Independent-Advisor-Outlook-Study-RIAs-Embrace-Whats-New-Without-Losing-What-Sets-the-Industry-Apart/default.aspx

Schwab Advisor Services released its 2026 Independent Advisor Outlook Study at its 36th annual IMPACT conference, drawing on a survey of 1,235 RIAs who custody with Schwab and together represent $497 billion in AUM.
Advisors named being a fiduciary as the top benefit of being an RIA (64%), and 90% said the fiduciary model is very helpful in keeping clients' best interests in mind.
AUM remains the primary growth measure for 75% of firms, while 70% of advisors expect client referrals and 60% expect exceptional service to drive growth over the next three years.
Emerging offerings are expanding: 66% of advisors provide trading capabilities, 50% offer pledged asset lines, and 45% offer alternative investments, most commonly real estate (72%) and private equity (71%).
Thirty-seven percent of RIAs offer private market investments today, and another 13% plan to add them within three years.
RIAs are investing in AI integration to improve workflows (49%), yet only 7% use agentic AI today, and 66% plan to use AI mainly to support the client experience while keeping the advisor relationship personal.
AI regulation and guidance is the top area where RIAs want industry advocacy (38%), with 68% preferring clear, easy-to-understand AI standards and only 4% favoring all-encompassing mandates.

Knote: While only 38% of advisors want AI regulation and guidance advocacy but it was the highest ranked item and I suspect the C-Suite results are much higher still.