Schwab CEO Rick Wurster: Crypto, AI and the Shifts Impacting How We Invest

What’s really changing in investing — and what’s just hype? Peter Mallouk sits down with Charles Schwab CEO Rick Wurster to talk through the trends that matter most right now: the rise of convenience as a competitive advantage, what prediction markets actually tell us (and what they don’t), Schwab’s evolving view on digital assets, and whether AI will make financial advice faster and more personal or just harder to trust. They also dig into why the human side of planning still wins when the stakes are high and the decisions are emotional. It’s a candid look at how one of the industry’s biggest players is thinking about your money. (00:00) Schwab’s client-first approach and what it means for everyday investors (02:16) The big shifts Rick thinks will shape investors’ decisions (04:13) Prediction markets: useful signals vs. sports gambling (08:21) Digital assets: speculation, crypto and what clients are asking for (11:08) Wurster explains fee increases for its advisor referral program (15:55) Why Schwab disrupts itself and how “convenience” is changing the industry (18:03) Blockchain and stablecoins: what might actually be useful (21:34) AI and financial advice: what may get faster and more personal (and what won’t) (26:43) What Schwab is building next and why it matters for your money (27:54) Staying calm and rational as things change RESOURCES Follow Peter on his social media accounts: X | LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook Follow Creative Planning’s social media accounts: X | LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook Browse through all our episodes here. Like the Icons and Ideas podcast? Check out Peter’s other podcasts! Signal or Noise Down the Middle