Charles Schwab Review 2026

Charles Schwab is one of the largest and most trusted financial services firms in the United States, serving over 34 million client accounts with more than $8 trillion in assets.

Founded in 1971 and publicly traded on the NYSE (SCHW), Schwab is regulated by the SEC and FINRA, with SIPC insurance providing additional account protection up to $500,000.

While Schwab is primarily known as a full-service brokerage for stocks, ETFs, and mutual funds, it also offers forex trading through its Schwab Forex service.

The broker's StreetSmart Edge platform is a powerful desktop application that provides advanced charting and analysis tools.

Schwab offers commission-free trading on US stocks and ETFs, along with an extensive lineup of research and educational resources.

The broker's customer service is consistently rated among the best in the industry.

For forex traders, Schwab's offerings are more limited compared to specialized forex brokers like Oanda or Forex.com.

The broker does not support MetaTrader platforms, and forex spreads are generally wider than what dedicated forex brokers offer.

However, for US investors who want a one-stop-shop for all their investing needs — including stocks, options, ETFs, mutual funds, and forex — Charles Schwab is an excellent choice that combines regulatory security with exceptional service..