Managing Director, Wealth Management Research

Your Opportunity

Managing Director, Head of Wealth Management Research

Reporting to the Head of the Schwab Center for Financial Research (SCFR), the Managing Director (MD) will create the vision and execute our industry leading wealth management research strategy driving a measurable thought leadership agenda across client, advisor and enterprise channels.

The MD will be a member of the SCFR leadership team and will be key part of representing Schwab externally including media, conferences and industry forums and growing the firm’s reputation in Wealth Management.  He/she will work closely with key business partners such as Wealth & Advice Solutions, Schwab Wealth Advisory, Schwab Asset Management, Insights & Education, and Field Enablement.

The role will be based in Denver, CO or Austin, TX.

Key Outcomes:

• Lead a small team of experienced and engaged analysts and strategists.

Enable the success of our clients by developing Schwab’s point of view on the best practices and action steps for individuals in the following areas:

• Estate planning, Tax planning, Education & Family Support, Personal finance, Retirement planning,
• Concentrated positions, Goals-Based Investing, Insurance & Risk Management, and Banking & Credit Management.

Effectively communicate our point of view through:

• Written reports (directed to both advisors and individuals of various levels of wealth and sophistication),
• Media activities (traditional and social),
• Videos (both internal and external), and
• Speaking events (in person, virtual).

Support our business partners by working with them to incorporate our point of view in:

• Analytical tools (including AI) used by clients and employees,
• Educational materials (both employees and clients),
• Advice policies, and
• Investment products, offers, and solutions. 

Additional Responsibilities:

• Set and maintain a multi-year wealth management research agenda aligned to client needs, business priorities, and the firm’s strategic narrative.
• Establish clear research standards and governance (methodology, sourcing, review cadence, and editorial quality) to ensure consistent, defensible, and actionable insights.
• Translate market, client, and competitive intelligence into differentiated points of view practical for both advisors and self-directed investors.
• Partner with Legal, Risk, and Compliance to ensure external-facing content and media participation meet regulatory and brand requirements.
• Create feedback loops with field and client-facing teams to continuously improve relevance, usability, and adoption of research and tools.
• Serve as a senior spokesperson and internal subject-matter leader—coaching team members on executive presence, storytelling, and media readiness.
• Consult with business partners on scalable content packaging (playbooks, checklists, calculators, training modules) that enables consistent delivery through digital, advisor, and workplace channels.

What you have

Required Experience:

• 15+ years of experience in the wealth management industry encompassing leading research planning, execution and delivery.
• Demonstrated ability to set research standards and governance (methodology, sourcing, editorial oversight) and ensure high-quality, consistent output at scale
• Experience defining success metrics and using analytics to improve content strategy, distribution, and adoption (e.g., engagement, reach, advisor usage, client outcomes)
• Proven ability to translate research into scalable tools, educational experiences, and digital journeys (including AI-enabled capabilities) in partnership with product and technology teams
• Executive presence and credibility as an external spokesperson, including comfort with live Q&A, press interviews, and conference speaking engagements
• Strong operating discipline, including prioritization, roadmap management, and budget/vendor oversight to deliver high-impact work on time
• Strong people leader who enables and develops a high-performing team
• Effective relationship builder with an ability to partner cross-functionally, cross-enterprise and work effectively with various levels of the organization, as well as various personality types
• Proven ability to effectively communicate complex subject matter in a variety of media and to a variety of audiences (both internal and external)
• Experience in articulating and managing a multi-year thought leadership program
• An advanced degree or relevant designations and certifications
• Demonstrated ability to set research standards and governance (methodology, sourcing, editorial oversight) and ensure high-quality, consistent output at scale
• Track record of partnering with Legal, Risk, and Compliance to produce external-facing research and communications in a regulated environment
• Proven ability to translate research into scalable tools, educational experiences, and digital journeys (including AI-enabled capabilities) in partnership with product and technology teams
• Executive presence and credibility as an external spokesperson, including comfort with live Q&A, press interviews, and conference speaking engagements