Advisor Services Satisfied with your custodian? Ask yourself these questions. . Contents Why the custodian you choose matters. 2 Registered investment advisors (RIAs) value independence. Yet some feel like Questions to ask yourself about your existing custodian or when you’re evaluating a new relationship: they’re going it alone when it comes to their custodian. How well does your Does my custodian have enough experience supporting advisors? 3 Am I getting good service from my custodian? 4 Does my custodian support my technology needs? 5 What investment products do I have access to? 6 Does my custodian help me plan for my firm’s future? 7 questions to ask a new provider when What networking and educational opportunities does my custodian provide? 8 you’re ready to make a switch. How important are RIAs to my custodian? 9 custodian support you and your business? This guide can help you determine whether it’s time for a change as well as what . 1. Does my custodian   Why the custodian you choose matters. have enough experience supporting advisors? Some custodians have been working with advisors for 25 years, while others are new to the industry. Your custodian’s experience in the industry may determine your access to proven technology platforms, products, services and best practices. Ask whether your custodian has the experience you need: Like most RIAs, you probably chose independence because you enjoy serving clients and growing your business.

In fact, that’s what • How many years has my custodian been in the industry? • How many advisors does it support? makes you successful. Your custodian should provide the back-office • What’s the average tenure of its service teams? support you need to keep your time focused on what really matters. • What types of advisors does it serve  Ideally, you should have a close, long-term relationship with your custodian that includes strategic discussions about your business and daily interactions about operations. At Schwab Advisor Services , we recommend you evaluate your ™ (money managers, wealth managers, etc.)? • How many advisors like me does it serve? • How well does my custodian share industry best  practices with me? custodian periodically, using seven simple questions. After 25 years of serving independent advisors, we’ve found them to be the critical measures of a custodian’s quality and value.

They are also the areas Type your answers here. in which we strive to continually improve for our clients. Use this guide to assess whether you’re getting everything you need from your custodian and to determine if it’s time for a change. 2 3 . 2. Am I getting good service from  my custodian? 3. Does my custodian support  my technology needs? You provide a high level of service to your clients, and your Technology is the backbone of any advisory firm. Has your custodian should be just as responsive to you.

How is your custodian helped you assess your technology needs and rapport with your current service team? Ask yourself whether implement solutions so your office runs efficiently? Consider you’re getting the service you deserve: how your custodian’s technology platform measures up: • Does my custodian offer advisors a dedicated service  • Am I free to choose any technology platform?  team? Do I have one? • Are other advisors satisfied with their service? Am I?  • Do I have adequate access to service representatives  and subject-matter experts? •  ow well do representatives at my custodian understand H my business and its unique needs? • What support do I get for my day-to-day needs?  For larger technology issues? • What training is available?  • Is my custodian committed to innovation?  • How reliable is my custodian’s technology?  • s my custodian’s Web site easy to use? I Is it kept up to date? •  hat technology outsourcing options are available? W • How do my clients benefit from my custodian’s  technology? Type your answers here. 4 Type your answers here. 5 . 4. What investment products do I  have access to? 5. Does my custodian help me plan  for my firm’s future? As an RIA, you require access to a diverse set of products Running an RIA firm involves more than managing client for your clients. Ask yourself whether your custodian assets.

You need a custodian that can help you grow and provides access to the products you need: manage your firm—and help you profit from the business • What types of investment products does my custodian  you’ve built when it’s time to retire. Ask yourself how well offer? • What new products does my custodian plan to introduce  in the future? • How flexible is my custodian with the products I can offer  my clients? •  re there products I’ve requested that my custodian can’t A provide? your custodian supports your strategic objectives: • What support does my custodian offer for business  planning, marketing and business development? • How much compliance and regulatory support does my  custodian provide? • Does my custodian help my firm attract and retain  clients? How? • Does my custodian have resources to guide me in hiring  advisors and other staff? • Can my custodian help me sell or transition my firm?  Type your answers here. 6 Type your answers here. 7 . 6. What networking and educational  opportunities does my custodian provide? Networking and ongoing education connect you with peers and experts so you can apply additional knowledge, points of view and best practices to your business. Ask yourself how your custodian supports your continuing development: • Does my custodian hold national events for advisors?  • What about local events, forums and workshops?  • Does my custodian offer Web-based education so I can  learn on my own time? 7.  How important are RIAs to my custodian? Just as you’re committed to your clients’ success, your custodian should be equally devoted to yours. Ask yourself how committed your custodian is to your business: • What percentage of my custodian’s overall business is  invested in custodial services for advisors? • What is my custodian’s attitude toward the independent  advising industry? • How much does my custodian invest annually in its RIA  business? What percentage of its total revenue is that? • How well does my custodian provide industry leadership  on behalf of advisors? Type your answers here. 8 Type your answers here. 9 .

Notes 10 11 . Your Next Step For 25 years, Schwab Advisor Services has been helping independent advisors grow. With a proven track record as the leading custodian for RIAs, we are ready to help you take your firm to the next level. Schwab is committed to helping our advisors serve their clients, run their businesses and grow their firms. Ask us how we can help you: • Call 877-687-4085 • Visit advisorservices.schwab.com 12 . Advisor Services Schwab Advisor Services (formerly Schwab Institutional®) includes the custody, trading and support services of Schwab. ©2014 Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. (“Schwab”). All rights reserved. Member SIPC. TWI (0514-3248) MKT72912-01 (05/14) .