Video: Charles Schwab

Charles R. Schwab, Chairman

Schwab was built around a simple idea: put the client first.

The Schwab Way

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Seeing the world through clients' eyes has shaped who we are and what we offer.

We work hard to keep clients at the heart of everything we do by offering a better, more modern way to build and manage wealth.

Table

  • Then
    Then
  • Now
    Now
  • Low Pricing
  • Then
    When the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission deregulated securities in 1975, many Wall Street firms raised their commissions. We cut ours and established one of the first discount brokerages.
  • Now
    You will enjoy US$0 commission on online listed stock, ETF and options trades + US$0.65 options per-contract fees.¹ 

  • Access
  • Then
    In 1996, at the risk of substantial cuts to our commission revenue, we embraced low-cost online investing in the early days of the internet because it benefited the consumer.
  • Now
    Access the U.S. market with intuitive tools and guidance to find U.S. stocks that fit your global investing strategy. 

  • Education
  • Then
    Not satisfied with the industry's subjective stock ratings, in 2002 Schwab launched Schwab Equity Ratings³, a fact-based system that ranks over 3,000 stocks, with equal numbers of buys and sells.
  • Now
    Deepen your understanding of the U.S. market with our comprehensive investing education including articles, webinars, podcasts, and more. 

  • Accountability
  • Then
    In 2013, Schwab announces accountability as policy, believing every investor deserves it.
  • Now
    If for any reason you're not completely satisfied, we'll refund eligible fee or commission and work with you to make things right. You won't find that kind of promise everywhere but you will find it here.² 

Image of Golden Gate Bridge

Make the most of the world's largest financial market.

Schwab is here to help you get the most out of your investments in the U.S—the world's largest financial market.* Our Financial Consultants, tools, and resources are all available to provide insight into American market trends. Together, we can help you understand the U.S market to help achieve your financial goals.

*Source: World Federation of Exchanges, as of December 31, 2018. Based on market capitalization.


Common questions

Ready to start

Online listed equity trades are commission free1 and there is no charge to work with a Schwab Financial Consultant. Although other account fees, fund expenses, and brokerage commissions may apply, we believe in keeping our fees low as a way to provide greater value to you. We strive to keep fees low so that you have more to invest. 

Get details about our fees and commissions.

Satisfaction Guarantee:
At Schwab, we believe every investor deserves to work with a firm they can count on. Our commitment is backed by a guarantee.2 If for any reason you're not completely satisfied, we’ll refund eligible fee or commission and work with you to make things right.

To apply for a Schwab One International account, simply prepare the required supporting documents and go through the online account opening process. Once the account is fully established, you can fund your account and start investing. 
 
In order for us to efficiently process your application for an account in accordance with relevant industry regulations, please begin by telling us your country/region of residence.

As a general rule, non-U.S. persons with no U.S. business operations are typically not obligated to file a U.S. tax return. Depending on your circumstances, current U.S. estate tax laws may also provide significant advantages to international investors. You should consult your legal and tax advisor(s) with any questions. Here is some basic information about U.S. tax and estate considerations which can be taken into account as part of your investment decision-making process.

To protect your personal information from unauthorized access and use, we use security measures that comply with U.S. federal law. These measures include computer safeguards and secured files and buildings. The Schwab Security Guarantee is our commitment to cover 100% of any losses in any of your Schwab accounts due to unauthorized activity. To learn more about security at Schwab, please visit SchwabSafe.
 

FAQ

What we offer

We provide access to the U.S. market to help international investors take advantage of investment opportunities with a variety of products, including:

  • Stocks and options
  • Exchange-traded funds (ETFs)
  • Fixed income
  • American depository receipts (ADRs)
  • Offshore mutual funds (for non-U.S. persons, where permissable)

For investors looking for guidance, we offer investment advice that enables you to work one-on-one with a dedicated Schwab Financial Consultant on an ongoing basis to grow and preserve your wealth.

Trading with Schwab means getting innovative tools, premium insights, robust education, and specialized support—all of which help give you what you need to make informed and timely trading decisions. And all with no trade minimums or platform fees (other account fees, fund expenses, and brokerage commissions may apply; see our pricing guide for details. You can trade with powerful web, software, and mobile trading platforms featuring advanced tools that are intuitive to use.

Schwab offers financial education specially designed for its international clients. Our live webinars are designed to help investors learn more about topics around U.S. investing. We also offer regular updates and insight into the state of the U.S. market. Use these resources to improve your investing knowledge and enhance your trading skills.
 
Browse our workshops and webinars.

FAQ

How we help international investors

At Schwab International, we believe in putting investors first. We're here to help international investors get the most out of their U.S. investments.

The U.S. is home to the world's largest financial market.* Our financial consultants, tools, and resources are all available to provide insight into American market trends. Together, we can help you understand the U.S. market to help achieve your financial goals.
 
*Source: World Federation of Exchanges. Data as of December 31, 2018. Based on market capitalization.

We offer a variety of ways to help you stay up to date on U.S. markets. Daily Updates offers the latest U.S. market news, commentary and analysis from Schwab as well as respected sources. U.S. Market Commentary is a constantly updated collection of insights and ideas from Schwab’s market experts.

Schwab was built around a simple purpose: champion every client's goals with passion and integrity. This purpose drives us to help our clients take ownership of their financial futures, helping people at all levels of income and every stage of life.
 
For international investors, Schwab's innovative tools and resources as well as the benefit of decades of U.S. market experience help make the U.S. market even more accessible.

As an American living outside the U.S., Schwab aims to make your financial transition as smooth as possible. Below are a few ways we can help you invest in U.S. markets and manage your account while living abroad.

  • Professional support to help guide you through the account opening process and answer your questions
  • An international wire team to facilitate currency exchanges and money movement
  • Competitive rates of exchange when moving into or out of U.S. dollar with other major currencies
  • All accounts are U.S.-domiciled dollar accounts, which can simplify your U.S. tax reporting
  • Clear online reporting and a 1099 tax form to help your U.S. Internal Revenue Service filing

Explore more information on Schwab's services for U.S. expatriates.

Start investing in the U.S. markets today.

Have more questions? We're here to help.