Schwab to Acquires Forge For $660mm, Expanding Access to Private Markets
- Kendrick Wakeman, CFA
- 1 day ago
- 1 min read
Westlake, Texas–based Charles Schwab, a leading wealth management and brokerage firm, announced plans to acquire Forge Global Holdings, a San Francisco–based private markets fintech platform, in a transaction valued at approximately $660 million. Forge operates one of the largest marketplaces for private company shares, facilitating over $17 billion in transactions, and provides investors with direct and indirect access to private market opportunities. Schwab said the acquisition advances its mission to democratize investing by making private markets more transparent and accessible to qualified investors.
The deal will combine Schwab’s 46 million client accounts and $11.6 trillion in assets with Forge’s marketplace technology and data analytics to create a unified private market ecosystem. Schwab plans to integrate Forge’s capabilities into its expanding suite of wealth and advisory services, building on initiatives such as Schwab Alternative Investments Select and Schwab Private Issuer Equity Services. Together, the firms aim to deliver liquidity solutions, private stock plan administration, and diversified investment access through a single platform.
This acquisition highlights the growing role of alternative investments in wealth management as investors seek exposure beyond traditional asset classes. Schwab’s entry into the private markets through Forge exemplifies the Alts 2 Wealth Initiatives theme, reflecting how WealthTech innovation is bringing transparency, liquidity, and scale to alternative investments that were once limited to institutions and ultra-high-net-worth investors.