Charles Schwab In 2002

Charles Schwab in 2002:

1. How did the business model change for Charles Schwab from its inception to 2001? Be sure to mention the role of technology in your answer.

Originally company was set up as discount broker. The company started to operate in the mid 70s and trades were closed by phone. The process was inconvenient and unproductive. Company was immediately looking for improvement and implemented system for automate trade clearance and settlement. In the mid 80s company introduced PC software for on line trading using dial up connection and later automated voice-response telephone service. When internet emerged in 90s Schwab started to work on Interned brokerage platform. In 2000 Schwab acquired CyberTrader a direct access broker with their unique software described as easy to use advanced technology platform with access to many markets. That software became the engine for new Schwab's trading platform StreetSmart Pro. At 2001 Schwab was operating over 13 millions online accounts and ranked as number one discount broker. Most of the business was done online.

2. What is the "New Schwab" for 2002? Why was the model changed at that time?

Events in September 2001 had huge influence to economy and financial markets together with many company bankruptcies (Enron, WorldCom, Tyco, Ð'...) in early 2002 investors behavior was changed a lot. Investors started to look more for safe investment rather than high return and started to seek the help of professional advisors more. Analyst saw Schwab branch staff underqualified (they were originally taken as order takers) and necessary to change with more experienced and more expensive financial advisors. As a result company launched an alternative for investment research, Schwab Equity RatingsÐ'®, and two new advisory services for affluent