Welcome to the Schwab Self-Directed Brokerage Account Indicators (SDBA Indicators), a key source of information on the investing activities, behaviors and sentiments of participants investing in self-directed brokerage accounts within their retirement plan. The SDBA Indicators seek to provide an inside look at the investing activity and demographics of an ever-growing segment of retirement plan participants. As one of the fastest growing investment options in retirement plans, self-directed brokerage accounts are expected to continue to make up a large percentage of plans.
The Schwab SDBA Indicators track a wide variety of investment activity and profile information on participants within Schwab's Personal Choice Retirement Account® (PCRA) product, ranging from asset allocation trends, asset flow in various equity and mutual fund categories, to age trends and trading activity. The Indicators provide insight into participants' outlook of the markets and the investment decisions they make.
Charles Schwab has been an industry leader in self-directed brokerage accounts since 1994, with a growing list of Fortune 500® clients. By analyzing and publishing data on our own PCRA product, our goal is to provide a deeper understanding of participant behaviors and investment trends in self-directed brokerage accounts.
SDBA Indicators: Frequently Asked Questions
What are the Schwab SDBA Indicators?
Why are we providing this information?
How is the information derived?
How can I access the SDBA Indicators?
How frequently will this be published?
How can I get more information?
1. What are the Schwab SDBA Indicators?
The Schwab SDBA Indicators are a compilation of key investment statistics and profile information on retirement plan participants investing in our proprietary self-directed brokerage account, the Schwab Personal Choice Retirement Account® (PCRA). PCRA is a premier self-directed brokerage account product in the retirement industry, offered through Schwab since 1994. Based on data collected from all PCRA accounts with account balances between $5,000 and $2 million, the Indicators seek to track the asset flow, trading activity and profile information of participants.
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2. Why are we providing this information?
There is currently very little industry information on the investing behaviors and attitudes among self-directed brokerage account participants. It is important to gain a better understanding of participant sentiments and attitudes, and if SDBA participants behave any differently than other investors. The SDBA Indicators are provided to highlight investing and behavioral trends and to assist in determining if participant education is having an impact on investment decision making, allowing for possible shifts in education programs and communications.
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3. How is the information derived?
The SDBA Indicators have been developed based on data collected from all participants who currently have a PCRA account within their 401(k) plan and have account balances between $5,000 and $2 million in their PCRA account. Data is extracted monthly on all accounts that are open as of month-end and meet the minimum and maximum balance requirements. Except as noted, all statistical information is derived from PCRA accounts across all Retirement Plan Services distribution channels. Equity sectors are based on classification standards determined by Standard & Poors®. Mutual fund categories are based on fund categorization by Morningstar®.
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4. How can I access the SDBA Indicators?
Access Current and Historical SDBA Indicator files in the links provided above.
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5. How frequently will this be published?
The Indicators will be published quarterly, roughly six weeks after quarter end. In addition to a quarterly report, an annual rollup report will be published and available in conjunction with the first quarter report. All historical reports will be archived and available in the same location as the current release.
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6. How can I get more information?
For more information about the Schwab SDBA Indicators and media inquiries, please contact Mike Peterson at (330) 908-4334.
For more Schwab PCRA information, please contact Robert Jesch at
(415) 667-8090.
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