Schwab Study Reveals RIA AI Adoption More Than Doubles - But Most Firms Still in Early Stages

Key Terms

registered investment advisors financial

Registered investment advisors are professional firms or individuals who provide financial advice and manage investments for clients. They are officially registered with regulatory authorities, which helps ensure they follow rules designed to protect investors' interests. This registration provides a level of trust and accountability, making it easier for investors to find qualified advisors who prioritize their financial well-being.

RIAs financial

Registered Investment Advisers (RIAs) are firms or individuals licensed to give personalized investment advice and manage client portfolios, and they are legally required to act in their clients’ best financial interest. Investors care because RIAs provide tailored planning and discretionary management much like a trusted financial coach who decides and adjusts investments on your behalf, which can affect portfolio costs, tax handling, and potential returns compared with other types of advisors.

generative AI technical

Generative AI is a type of computer technology that can create new content, like text, images, or music, on its own. It’s important because it can produce realistic and useful material quickly, which could change how we create art, write stories, or even develop new products. Think of it as a smart robot that can invent and produce things almost like a human.

intelligent agents technical

Intelligent agents are software programs that act on their own to perform tasks, learn from data, and make decisions—like a digital assistant that researches options, executes trades, or automates customer service. For investors they matter because these agents can lower costs, scale services, create new revenue streams and competitive advantages, but they also introduce operational, performance and regulatory risks similar to hiring a high‑speed, unsupervised employee.

New "Schwab Advisor AI in Action" Program Offers RIAs Roadmap, Resources, and Peer Networking as They Accelerate AI Integration

WESTLAKE, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- AI adoption among independent registered investment advisors (RIAs) has more than doubled since 2023, with 63% now using AI tools in some capacity, according to a new study released today by Schwab Advisor Services™. The study also reveals that most firms remain in the early stages of adoption, with use cases concentrated on administrative tasks like notetaking and email drafting. In addition, of advisors that are using AI, only about one in ten are fully integrating AI into their business strategy.

The findings point to a significant opportunity and a widening gap between early adopters and firms still experimenting. In response, Schwab Advisor Services has launched Schwab Advisor AI in Action, a program designed to help RIAs better understand the strategic role AI can play through education, peer connection, and hands-on resources.

“AI is here, and adoption matters,” said Lisa Salvi, Head of Business Consulting and Education at Schwab Advisor Services. “Firms that set a clear vision and invest in upskilling their talent and building strong data foundations will be better positioned to turn AI from a curiosity into a huge competitive advantage.”

What the Study Revealed

Among the 533 RIAs surveyed, 82% of current AI users report relying on generative AI tools—most often through individual experimentation rather than firm-wide systems. Early adopters cite measurable benefits, including time savings, workflow improvements, and faster client meeting prep.

Expectations are rising. Nearly six in ten advisors (59%) believe AI will have a direct, measurable impact on client relationships within the next year. More than two-thirds (68%) expect AI to be transformative to the future of financial advice within three years. Interest in intelligent agents—AI systems that can act autonomously on behalf of users—is growing as firms look to personalize service and simplify complex workflows, though adoption remains low.

"Advisors keep asking us, 'What should we be doing with AI?' The better question is, 'What do we want AI to make possible?' The firms getting the most value aren't chasing features. They're solving real problems—freeing up time for client conversations, personalizing the client experience at scale, and catching risks before they become issues. That's where the industry is headed," said Adam Moseley, Director of AI Consulting at Schwab Advisor Services.

Schwab Advisor AI in Action: Built for Learning, Connection, and Execution

Throughout 2026, Schwab Advisor AI in Action will offer RIA clients a range of experiences and resources, including monthly webcasts on AI trends and use cases, in-person AI Summits in Newport Beach, CA, New York City and Chicago, and executive education through a multi-day on-campus experience for RIA leaders. The program will also feature new thought leadership and the expansion of the Schwab Affinity Services program to include select AI vendors offering discounts.

"We built this program because the gap between early adopters and everyone else is widening. Advisors don't need more hype about AI. They need a clear path forward, practical examples, and a peer group that's figuring this out alongside them. That's what we're offering," Salvi added.

About the Study

The RIA and AI Research Study is an online study conducted for Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. by Logica Research, an independent research firm. The study was conducted from October 7 to October 26, 2025, among 533 advisors who custody at Schwab. Participation was voluntary and uncompensated. The study is available here.

About Charles Schwab

At Charles Schwab we believe in the power of investing to help individuals create a better tomorrow. We have a history of challenging the status quo in our industry, innovating in ways that benefit investors and the advisors and employers who serve them, and championing our clients’ goals with passion and integrity.

More information is available at www.aboutschwab.com. Follow us on X, Facebook, YouTube and LinkedIn.

Disclosures

Schwab Advisor Services™ provides custody, trading, and the support services of Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. (“Schwab”), member SIPC, to independent investment advisors and Charles Schwab Investment Management, Inc. (“CSIM”). Independent investment advisors are not owned by, affiliated with, or supervised by Schwab.

This report was produced by Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. and is intended for independent investment advisory firms. The report is intended for informational and educational purposes only, and is not intended to provide financial, investment, regulatory, compliance, legal, or tax advice. Any guidance taken from the report is not tailored to the particular circumstances of any reader of the report or their firm.

The report relies, in part, on information provided to Schwab by the advisory firms named and others that participated in Schwab’s research and interviews. Schwab did not independently verify that information, and Schwab makes no representations about the accuracy of the information in the report. In addition, the experience and practices discussed in the report may not be representative of other firms or the experience or results you might obtain.

©2026 Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. (“Schwab”) All rights reserved. Member SIPC.
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Mike Peterson

Charles Schwab

234-255-7553

Mike.Peterson@Schwab.com

Liz Shaw

TNG

732-757-2119

sas@neibartgroup.com

Source: The Charles Schwab Corporation