Charles Schwab has introduced thematic stock lists, a new resource that it said is designed to help self-directed investors looking to invest in stocks aligned with their interests and values.
The new Schwab offering adds greater personalization to clients at a time when investors increasingly demand such options, according to the company.
"There are significant opportunities for growth in the RIA sector, as long as advisors continue to not only offer value through personalization to their clients but also step up their personalization efforts," Schwab CEO Walt Bettinger said in the fall.
"Personalized investing is coming at all of us like a freight train," he said in the opening session of his company's second straight all-virtual Schwab Impact conference.
"Technology is bringing the opportunity for personalization to everyone: to large investors, to medium investors, small investors and the whole range of RIAs also," he explained at the time.
Using Schwab's thematic stock lists, which it called one of the largest theme-based stock list resources available in the sector, clients can "easily view potential investments from a list of 45 different thematic categories and approximately 900 total companies representing a range of trends including data advancement, medical breakthroughs, and environmental innovation," it said in a news release.
Schwab's thematic stock lists are available to clients for no additional fee at Schwab.com and on Schwab's mobile app.
"Individual investors are broadening how they think about investing," according to Divya Krishnan, Schwab product management director. "Nearly a third of our clients today tell us they're interested in customizing their portfolio to align with themes that are important to them," she said in a statement.
"Whether it's an area that speaks to someone's individual values, or it's something they have a deep passion for — like space or pets — investors increasingly want the ability to personalize their portfolios," she added.
