Charles Schwab (SCHW) Risk Analysis

We must process, record and monitor a large number of transactions and our operations are highly dependent on the integrity of our technology systems and our ability to make timely enhancements and additions to our systems. System interruptions, errors or downtime can result from a variety of causes, including changes in client use patterns, technological failure, changes to our systems, linkages with third-party systems and power failures and can have a significant impact on our business and operations. Our systems are vulnerable to disruptions from human error, execution errors, errors in models such as those used for asset management, capital planning and management, risk management, stress testing and compliance, employee misconduct, unauthorized trading, external fraud, computer viruses, distributed denial of service attacks, cyber attacks, terrorist attacks, natural disaster, extreme weather, power outage, capacity constraints, software flaws, events impacting key business partners and vendors, and similar events. For example, we and other financial institutions have been the target of various denial of service attacks that have, in certain circumstances, made websites, mobile applications and email unavailable for periods of time. Cloud technologies are critical to the operation of our systems and platforms and our reliance on cloud technologies is growing. We have experienced, and could, in the future, experience cloud service disruptions that lead to delays in accessing data that is important to our businesses. Such disruptions, such as the broad-reaching cloud platform outages that impacted multiple industries in recent years, can and have hindered our clients' access to our platforms. It could take an extended period of time to restore full functionality to our technology or other operating systems in the event of an unforeseen occurrence, which could affect our ability to process and settle client transactions. Despite our efforts to identify areas of risk, oversee operational areas involving risk, and implement policies and procedures designed to manage these risks, there can be no assurance that we will not suffer unexpected losses, reputational damage or regulatory action due to technology or other operational failures or errors, including those of our vendors or other third parties. While we devote substantial attention and resources to the reliability, capacity and scalability of our systems, we occasionally experience extraordinary trading volumes, which have caused and could cause our computer systems to operate at unacceptably slow speeds or even fail, affecting our ability to process client transactions and potentially resulting in some clients' orders being executed at prices they did not anticipate. Disruptions in service and slower system response times could result in substantial losses, decreased client satisfaction, reputational damage, and regulatory inquiries. We are also dependent on the integrity and performance of securities exchanges, clearing houses, market makers, dealers, custodians, and other intermediaries to which client orders are routed for execution and settlement. System failures and constraints and transaction errors at such intermediaries could result in delays and erroneous or unanticipated execution prices and cancelled orders, cause substantial losses for us and for our clients, and subject us to claims from our clients for damages, and cause reputational harm. We have experienced in recent years technology outages of client websites, mobile applications, and certain corporate technology as a result of technological issues with third-party service providers that we use to support websites and mobile applications used by us and our clients. An internal issue or issues with vendor or industry systems and connectivity could materially impact our operations and ability to service clients, subject us to material losses, and cause reputational harm. Certain events could increase our client service and processing times due to staffing shortages, remote work or the temporary loss of services from outsourced service providers, such as occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic. We consider service quality to be an important part of the client experience and our failure to meet client expectations could result in decreased client satisfaction.

We operate in a highly competitive environment with a broad array of competitors from large integrated banks to venture-capital-backed private companies. We continually monitor our pricing in relation to competitors and periodically adjust interest rates on deposits and loans, fees for advisory services, expense ratios on mutual funds and ETFs, trade commission rates, and other pricing and incentives to sustain our competitive position. Increased price competition from other financial services firms to attract clients, such as reduced commissions, higher deposit rates, reduced mutual fund or ETF expense ratios, or the increased use of incentives, could impact our results of operations and financial condition.

Client cash balances are a significant funding source for the generation of the Company's revenue. Cash awaiting investment may be used to extend margin loans to clients or be swept to our banking subsidiaries and those bank deposits are then used to extend loans to clients and purchase investment securities. We also sweep a portion of such cash to the TD Depository Institutions pursuant to the 2023 IDA agreement, through which we earn bank deposit account fees. A significant reduction in our clients' allocation to cash, a change in the allocation of that cash, or a transfer of cash away from the Company, would likely reduce our income. For example, as a result of rapid increases in short-term interest rates in 2022 and 2023, the Company saw a significant decrease in clients' asset allocation to sweep cash and greater client investment in higher-yielding alternatives at Schwab such as fixed income investments and proprietary purchased money market funds. To help support these changes in client cash allocations, the Company extensively utilized higher-cost funding sources, which negatively impacted the Company's net income.

In 2026, the Company anticipates it will begin offering expanded client access to trading in digital assets including spot trading in select cryptocurrencies. Expansion of digital asset client offerings presents significant new risks to the Company, including risks related to digital asset custody, trading, settlement, and liquidity, and increased risk related to fraud and other illicit activity. Client demand for digital assets is uncertain and may fluctuate significantly due to market volatility, regulatory developments, or changes in investor sentiment. The regulatory landscape for cryptocurrencies is evolving and uncertain, and changes in laws, regulations, or regulatory interpretations could prohibit or limit our ability to offer these products, increase compliance costs, or expose us to increased regulatory scrutiny. Digital assets function as bearer instruments controlled with private keys, and transactions in digital assets are generally irreversible. Due to the unique nature of digital assets, the loss, theft, compromise, or destruction of private keys could result in the permanent loss of digital assets with no practical means of recovery. Because blockchain technology is relatively new, it is difficult to predict how it might be vulnerable to cybersecurity and fraud risks that could affect our business. We expect to engage with third-party service providers to facilitate certain activities related to digital assets. These relationships present additional risks, including operational, reputational, and compliance risks that could adversely affect our business. Internal and third-party systems needed to effect client activity in digital assets are vulnerable to operational failures, cyberattacks, and fraud, and we may be held responsible for deficiencies in the controls or regulatory compliance of third-party service providers, even where we do not have direct oversight of their operations. Failure or breach of our or third-party service providers' systems, cybersecurity controls, or operational processes could result in loss of client digital assets, which may not be recoverable in full or at all. Many crypto industry participants are relatively early-stage companies with limited history. There is no guarantee they will perform as reliably or efficiently as anticipated. Regulatory change could also affect the ability of third-party service providers to continue to operate or provide services for Schwab clients. Such events could result in material financial losses, legal or regulatory claims, and reputational harm, even if we are not at fault.

Our business can be adversely affected by the general environment – economic, corporate, securities market, regulatory, and geopolitical developments all play a role in client asset valuations, trading activity, interest rates, and overall investor engagement, and are outside of our control. Deterioration in the housing and credit markets and decreases in securities valuations negatively impact our results of operations and capital resources. The monetary policies of the Federal Reserve, which regulates the supply of money and credit in the United States, have a significant effect on our operating results. Actions taken by the Federal Reserve, including changes in its target funds rate and its own balance sheet management, are difficult to predict and can affect our financial results, including net interest revenue and bank deposit account fees, and the market value of our investment securities. These policies can have implications for clients' allocation to cash as we experienced in recent years, and higher or lower client cash balances have an impact on our capital requirements, as well as liquidity implications if such changes in allocation are sudden. Investor sentiment and market and trading dynamics can affect client preferences and security selection, and can impact transactions and asset-based revenues. Market-driven changes, such as declines in equity markets, can also reduce client demand for margin lending, which is a significant source of net interest revenue.

of an insolvency estate and subject to competing claims or could impose restrictions on distributions to clients while ownership is adjudicated. Even if clients' cryptocurrencies are ultimately determined not to be part of an insolvency estate, clients could experience delays in accessing their assets due to administrative stays, reconciliation and tracing processes, valuation disputes, or operational constraints on the relevant blockchain networks. Because on-chain transfers are generally irreversible and may be affected by network congestion or protocol events, an insolvency administrator's ability to return assets in kind may be constrained. Clients may receive distributions later than expected, in a different form, or at a value different from market value at the time of the distribution. Any such outcome could result in client losses, complaints and litigation, increased regulatory scrutiny, and harm to our business or reputation.

We rely on external service providers to perform certain key technology, cloud infrastructure, processing, servicing, support, and custody functions. These service providers face technology, operating, business, and economic risks, and any significant failures by them, including the improper use or disclosure of our confidential client, employee, or company information, could cause us to incur losses and could harm our reputation. An interruption in or the cessation of service by any external service provider as a result of systems failures, capacity constraints, financial difficulties, natural disasters, extreme weather, power outage, public health crises, political developments, war, international disputes, or for any other reason, and our inability to make alternative arrangements in a timely manner could disrupt our operations, impact our ability to offer certain products and services, and result in financial losses to us. As a result of both broad-reaching and company-specific technology impacts from our third-party service providers, we have experienced in recent years outages of client websites, mobile applications, and certain corporate technology. During the COVID-19 pandemic, we temporarily lost the services from some of our outsourced service providers which contributed to increased client service response and processing times. Switching to an alternative service provider may require a transition period and result in increased costs and less efficient operations. In addition, if custodians holding Schwab's or our clients' collateral were to fail to return such collateral when required due to insolvency, operational deficiencies, legal proceedings, or other events, we could incur financial loss. We rely on market makers, dealers, securities exchanges, clearing houses, custodians, and other financial intermediaries to execute and settle our clients' orders. In addition, payments received from market makers and exchanges in connection with the execution of client equity and options trades, and from dealers and other counterparties in connection with securities lending, account for significant revenue. The unwillingness or inability of any of these parties to perform their usual functions coupled with the unavailability of alternative arrangements could result in our clients' orders not getting executed or settled. This may be due to market volatility, uneconomic trading conditions, capacity constraints, financial constraints, system failures, unanticipated trading halts invoked by securities exchanges, market closures, or other reasons. Our inability to get client orders executed or settled because of the unwillingness or inability of these or similar parties to perform their usual functions could result in client dissatisfaction and reputational harm and expose us to client claims for damages.