Independent investment advisors have fundamentally changed the financial services landscape by providing client-centric, independent advice to affluent investors. Established in 2006 by Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. (“Schwab”), the IMPACT Awards honor firms that have advanced the industry and have achieved success through exemplary business practices.

In addition to the recognition, the IMPACT Awards program provides independent investment advisors and independent retirement plan providers with an opportunity to learn what leading firms are doing by sharing the winners’ best practices and achievements.

Learn more about each IMPACT Award.

One winner is selected for each of the four awards.

Winners of each award category are honored at IMPACT, with each firm receiving a trophy and a $15,000 donation to a charitable organization of the winner’s choice. The selection of each winning firm’s charity is subject to Schwab’s approval.

Learn more about the eligibility requirements.

Yes. To be considered for an IMPACT Award, firms must use Charles Schwab, Charles Schwab Advisor Services™, or Charles Schwab Bank to custody client assets.

Nominations for 2019 are now closed. You can sign up to receive email notification when 2020 IMPACT Award nominations are being accepted.

You may nominate your firm once in each category for which you qualify.

Yes. We encourage you to participate every year. Best-in-Business IMPACT Award™, Best-in-Retirement Business IMPACT Award™, and Trailblazer IMPACT Award™ winners, however, will not be allowed to participate in any category for five years; previous Pacesetter IMPACT Award™ winners may not participate in the Pacesetter IMPACT Award category again and must wait five years to participate in either of the other three award categories.

There is no fee to participate in the IMPACT Awards program.

Yes. You can nominate your firm once in each category for which you qualify. However, multiple nominations for the same firm for the Best-in-Business IMPACT Award^™, Best-in-Retirement Business IMPACT Award^™, Pacesetter IMPACT Award^™, and Trailblazer IMPACT Award^™ are not permitted.

At the time of nomination, only a completed nomination form is accepted. Later in the process, Schwab may ask for additional information.

All fields must be completed for a nomination to be accepted.

Yes. Nominations may include previously produced content that is owned by the firm; however, information that is copyrighted by another source cannot be used.

Nominations for 2019 are now closed. You can sign up to receive email notification when 2020 IMPACT Award nominations are being accepted.

The IMPACT Award winners will be announced at IMPACT^® 2020, a leading industry conference taking place November 10–13 in Boston, MA. Information about the winners will be posted online after they are announced at the conference.

Winners will be notified in September via phone. Winners will be announced at IMPACT^® 2020.

Only one winner for each category will be announced. No runners-up are selected.

Entries are reviewed to ensure that they meet all eligibility requirements and Schwab criteria. The remaining finalists are then judged by a panel of leaders from the business world and financial services industry who understand the challenges and opportunities facing today’s investors and those who serve them. These judges convene to review finalist nominations and select the winners in each category. Final selection is subject to acceptance of the IMPACT Awards terms and conditions and final approval by Schwab. In granting its final approval, Schwab is guided by the criteria for the IMPACT Awards program and considers which candidates best exemplify the prestige and purpose of the awards and reflect Schwab’s reputation in the marketplace for integrity, service, and value. Schwab has absolute discretion in approving the winners, and Schwab’s decisions in all matters related to the awards and the IMPACT Awards program are final.

Nominations for the IMPACT Awards are evaluated based on each firm’s ability to demonstrate success in the following areas.

Best-in-Business IMPACT Award^™

• Business planning
• Technology strategy
• Practice management and employee development
• Client loyalty

Best-in-Retirement Business IMPACT Award^™

• Business planning in the retirement industry
• Technology strategy in the retirement industry
• Practice management and employee development
• Client loyalty

Pacesetter IMPACT Award^™
Demonstrated accelerated growth in tandem with the following:

• Business planning
• Technology strategy
• Practice management and employee development
• Client loyalty

Trailblazer IMPACT Award^™
Demonstrated change in helping the industry reach new heights, for example:

• Focused understanding of the unique needs of a specific client segment and a developed, innovative approach to serving them (e.g., a new business model, marketing strategy, or strategic plan)
• Made a difference in the community through programs to educate new audiences about financial planning
• Helped shape the industry’s future through advocacy efforts in Washington, D.C., or involvement with industry associations
• Made strides in attracting and cultivating the RIA industry’s next generation of talent
• Awards or other distinctions

Schwab reserves the right to disqualify a firm for any reason, including adverse disciplinary history or bankruptcies. See the IMPACT Awards terms and conditions for more information about applicable background checks, due diligence, and disqualification.

Information you provide is used to review and judge your nomination for the IMPACT Awards program. Schwab and the judging panel maintain the confidentiality of your nomination. Schwab does not sell the information collected. See the IMPACT Awards terms and conditions for more information.

Schwab uses the eligibility criteria to review all nominations received. Once Schwab confirms the finalists, a judging panel of industry experts selects the winners for all four awards. All IMPACT Award winners are subject to Schwab’s final approval.