Charles Schwab Launches Equity Award Consultation Team for Corporate Stock Plan Clients

New complimentary service to help employees at all levels understand and value their equity compensation awards

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- After a successful pilot, Charles Schwab today announced the official launch of a new Equity Award Consultation Team for corporate stock plan clients. The team will provide personalized education and guidance to U.S.-based participants in the corporate equity plans serviced by Schwab, regardless of a participant’s level at their company or the value of their equity holdings.

“It’s become evident that there’s a strong need out there for education and guidance around corporate equity plans for employees at all levels,” said Trish Cox, senior vice president of Charles Schwab Corporate Brokerage Services. “And based on the 97 percent satisfaction rate of our pilot program, I’d say our new team is making great strides in meeting those needs for the companies and employees we serve.”

In a 2009 Schwab survey of stock plan decision makers, nearly half of survey respondents (48%) considered educating employees about the features and benefits of their stock plan a “significant challenge,” and 78 percent said that educating employees on the stock plan value and benefits will be an important focus for their company.

Schwab’s new Equity Award Consultation Team is made up of experienced professionals who are specifically trained to provide guidance on equity awards. The team will help employees from participating companies by educating them about their current holdings and explaining the choices available for managing those holdings within the context of the employee’s overall investment portfolio. Employers with corporate equity plans serviced by Schwab are eligible to participate in the program, which is available at no additional cost to the employer and the employees.

“Stock plan participants often do not understand or fully appreciate the value of their equity compensation,” said Larry Bohrer, vice president of Stock Plan Services at Charles Schwab. “Our equity consultation team was designed to not only help employees make sense of their equity awards, but to help them determine the role that equity awards can play in their overall financial picture.”

Additional information about Charles Schwab Equity Award Consultation Team is available at www.scrs.schwab.com.

About Charles Schwab

The Charles Schwab Corporation (NYSE:SCHW) is a leading provider of financial services, with more than 300 offices and 8.0 million client brokerage accounts, 1.4 million corporate retirement plan participants, 710,000 banking accounts, and $1.6 trillion in client assets as of Feb. 28, 2011. Through its operating subsidiaries, the company provides a full range of securities brokerage, banking, money management and financial advisory services to individual investors and independent investment advisors. Its broker-dealer subsidiary, Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. (member SIPC, www.sipc.org), and affiliates offer a complete range of investment services and products including an extensive selection of mutual funds; financial planning and investment advice; retirement plan and equity compensation plan services; referrals to independent fee-based investment advisors; and custodial, operational and trading support for independent, fee-based investment advisors through its Advisor Services division. Its banking subsidiary, Charles Schwab Bank (member FDIC and an Equal Housing Lender), provides banking and mortgage services and products. More information is available at www.schwab.com and www.aboutschwab.com. (0311-2058)

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Charles SchwabJennifer Davis, 415-667-0181
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Source: The Charles Schwab Corporation