Let us help you find the right account to reach your financial goals.

Investments Account - Charles Schwab

"I want to invest."

  • Schwab One® brokerage account

    Lets you easily buy and sell stocks, fractional shares, mutual funds, ETFs, index funds, and more.

    Learn about brokerage accounts

  • Brokerage account + Schwab Bank Investor Checking™ account

    Gives you a brokerage account linked to a checking account with unlimited ATM fee rebates,1 no monthly service fee, and no account minimums.

    Learn about our checking account
Retirements Account - Charles Schwab

"I want to save for retirement."

  • Traditional IRA

    Gives you immediate tax benefits but you pay taxes when you take money out in retirement.

    Learn about Traditional IRAs

  • Roth IRA

    Gives you tax benefits later when you take your retirement savings out tax-free.

    Learn about Roth IRAs

  • Rollover IRA

    Gives you control of retirement savings by moving funds from your former employer's plan.

    Learn about Rollover IRAs

What retirement account may be right for me? Get started >

Automated Investing Account - Charles Schwab

"I want to automate investing and make retirement saving easier."

College Savings Account - Charles Schwab

"I want to invest for my kids’ futures."

  • College savings account

    Lets you establish an education fund for a family member, a friend, or yourself with tax benefits.

    Explore college savings options

  • Custodial investing account

    Allows you to make a financial gift to a minor with no contribution limits and no gift tax for contributions up to $15,000 in a single year.

    Learn more about custodial accounts

  • Education savings account (ESA)

    Lets you pay for education expenses with withdrawals that are tax-free when used for qualified education expenses.

    Learn about education savings accounts
Charitable Accounts - Charles Schwab

"I want to protect my legacy and give back to others."

Account FAQs

  • Open an account online in about 10 minutes:
    1. Select your account type.
    2. Complete all application steps.
    3. Begin funding and investing.
  • Call us at 800-435-4000.
  • Find a branch.

An Individual Retirement Account (IRA) is a type of savings account that lets you take advantage of tax-free growth while saving for retirement. Different IRAs offer different kinds of tax benefits—and unlike a 401(k), IRAs are maintained by individuals, not employers or companies. 
Learn more about IRAs.

While both Roth IRAs and Traditional IRAs offer good investment options, the main difference between them is that Roth IRAs offer tax-free benefits in the future, while Traditional IRAs take advantage of tax benefits today.
Compare Roth vs. Traditional IRAs.

A Rollover IRA lets you move funds from your prior employer-sponsored retirement plan into another IRA, while preserving the tax-deferred status of your retirement assets. That means you won't have to pay current taxes or early withdrawal penalties at the time of the transfer.

You can roll over employer-sponsored retirement plans that you receive qualifying distributions from, including 401(k) plans, 403(b) plans, profit-sharing plans, money purchase plans, and Keoghs/Qualified Retirement Plans (QRPs). You may also be able to roll over after-tax dollars and governmental 457(b) qualifying distributions. Contact your plan administrator(s) to find out if your particular plan is eligible for rollover. Please note that employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs) and defined benefit plans may not be eligible.

An investor savings account is similar to a traditional savings account. The biggest difference is that the APY of an investor savings account is higher than that of a traditional savings account.
Learn more about Schwab's investor savings accounts.

You can start investing in securities by opening a Schwab brokerage account. You'll also get 24/7 support and a $0 account minimum.

A brokerage account is an arrangement between you and a licensed brokerage firm that lets you deposit funds, start investing in stocks, and place investment orders through the brokerage account. You can invest in whatever you choose—stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and more.

Brokerage accounts are often used to begin saving for retirement—but since they're flexible and allow you to withdraw at any time, you can also use your funds for shorter-term goals, like buying a new house, going on vacation, or planning a wedding.

Yes—opening an Investor Checking account means you'll also be opening a brokerage account. You'll receive a separate account number for each account, but you can use a single login for both. That means you can easily transfer funds between accounts for free.

Robo-advisors vary from firm to firm but are generally online services that provide automated portfolios based on your preferences. Robo-advisors weigh personal preferences against unpredictable forces to automatically recommend and build a diversified portfolio of funds that fit an investor's specific needs. Experts regularly monitor market activity and every underlying investment to ensure your portfolio is rebalanced appropriately by a sophisticated algorithm—all so you don't have to.

With a college savings account, you can make tax-benefited contributions that will give you more financial flexibility in paying your child's college expenses. These funds—including 529 education savings plans, custodial accounts, and education savings accounts—offer either tax-deferment or tax benefits, along with high contribution limits.

Need more help choosing the right account for you?