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Brooklyn Sprunger is a full-time Content Manager and Personal Finance Writer at Motley Fool Money, where she oversees product reviews and ratings while also writing about credit cards, bank accounts, investing, auto insurance, and other personal finance topics. She has worked in financial content since 2018, including more than four years at The Motley Fool. When she’s not writing or editing, Brooklyn is likely hiking and watching the Tennessee Vols.
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I've used Charles Schwab for years across my 401(k), Roth IRA, brokerage account, and even the robo-advisor, Schwab Intelligent Portfolios. From personal experience, opening an account is simple, and you can get started right from this page.
If you’re looking for how to open a Charles Schwab account, I’ll walk you through exactly what to expect, what you’ll need, and how to get started step by step.
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5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
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Bottom Line
Charles Schwab pioneered the low-cost brokerage model decades ago, and that legacy continues with its lineup of no-commission-fee offerings. The robust lineup of account types, investment vehicles, and high quality app round out the stacked feature set.
You’ll be asked to provide basic details, including:
Full legal name
Date of birth
Social Security number
U.S. address
Email and phone number
This information is required to verify your identity and comply with federal regulations.
4. Answer required regulatory questions
These confirm you're legally allowed to open a brokerage account and help Schwab understand your investing experience and objectives.
These questions are normal and required for all brokerage accounts.
5. Choose your account features
During the application, you may see optional features like margin trading or options trading. If you’re new to investing, you can safely leave these unchecked and add them later if you decide you need them.
You may also see optional add-ons like a Schwab cash management account. These don’t carry opening or maintenance fees.
6. Review and confirm
Double-check your selections and agree to Schwab's terms and conditions. You may see optional accounts like a cash management account -- none of these carry opening or maintenance fees.
7. Fund your account
You can fund your account right away, though it's not required for standard brokerage or IRA accounts. Link a bank or another brokerage account to get started. Robo-advisory accounts do require a $5,000 minimum, and additional features like tax-loss harvesting may require more.
Opening a Charles Schwab account is fast, simple, and low-cost. Start your application here and get started building your portfolio today.
Margin rates are poor, and Charles Schwab doesn't offer spot cryptocurrency trading. If you want to borrow from Charles Schwab or trade crypto, you may want to look elsewhere for a broker.
You need $0 to open a regular Charles Schwab brokerage account. But, if you're opening a robo-advisory account, you need $5,000.
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We're firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. Motley Fool Money does not cover all offers on the market. Motley Fool Money is 100% owned and operated by The Motley Fool. Our knowledgeable team of personal finance editors and analysts are employed by The Motley Fool and held to the same set of publishing standards and editorial integrity while maintaining professional separation from the analysts and editors on other Motley Fool brands.
Terms may apply to offers listed on this page.
Charles Schwab is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Brooklyn Welch has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Charles Schwab and recommends the following options: short December 2025 $95 calls on Charles Schwab. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
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