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Schwab Independent Branch Services released its first Examining the Mindset of U.S. Financial Professionals survey, which finds that client-facing financial professionals care deeply about their work and are pleased with their jobs, yet 76% say they have experienced obstacles that have limited their success, citing lack of support and limited autonomy.
The 994 survey participants, who have worked in the financial services industry for at least seven years and interact with investors at least once a week, prioritize clients' happiness over everything, yet 73% wish they could better assist clients and had more time to make an impact in the communities they serve.
According to Craig Taucher, senior vice president of Schwab Independent Branch Services, "these survey findings reflect common perspectives that we've heard when talking to candidates about running our franchise branches."
Schwab Independent Branch Services launched in December 2011 to accelerate growth in new markets by attracting successful financial advisors to run franchise branches that complement Schwab's existing company-managed branches. Today there are 44 franchise offices in 24 states.
Before Schwab started the Independent Branch Services, the company had financial consultants that work in retail branches, and the Advisor Services business for RIAs.
Taucher told ThinkAdvisor that Schwab saw an "opportunity to attract talent and create a business literally right in between those."
Independent Branch Services decided to do this survey to both get the pulse of the industry and to validate the decision to build the Independent Branch Services seven years ago.
