Invested | Charles Schwab

Invested: Changing Forever The Way Americans Invest

Extended Synopsis

To say Charles Schwab is merely an entrepreneur is an understatement; he is a revolutionary who fundamentally altered the American financial landscape. In his deeply personal memoir, Invested, Schwab recounts the highs and lows of building The Charles Schwab Corporation from a fledgling startup in the 1970s into a global financial powerhouse. Driven by a passion to democratize Wall Street, he transformed stock investing from an expensive, exclusive club into an accessible tool for everyday Americans, allowing them to participate in the growing economy as owners, not just earners.

Schwab writes candidly about the obstacles he faced along the way, from navigating severe dyslexia to shouldering six-figure debt while running his pioneering discount trading experiment out of a Sausalito apartment. Readers are given a front-row seat to pivotal moments in financial history, including a game-changing merger with Bank of America, a clever leveraged buyout to regain independence, the devastating market crash of 1987, the dot-com bubble burst, and the 2008 financial crisis. Through decades of relentless change, Schwab's unwavering focus on risk management and customer advocacy offers invaluable lessons on challenging conventions and building lasting success.

About the Author

Charles Schwab is one of the most successful and influential entrepreneurs of our time. As the founder of The Charles Schwab Corporation, he pioneered the discount brokerage industry, championed the individual investor, and built an eponymous company that remains one of the largest and most trusted financial services firms in the world.

Accolades & Awards

• "To say Charles Schwab is an entrepreneur is actually an understatement. He really is a revolutionary." — Phil Knight, co-founder of Nike and author of Shoe Dog
• "I've admired Chuck Schwab for a long time. When you read this book, you'll understand why." — Warren E. Buffett
• "This is a fascinating story that teaches you about the never-ending evolution of an entrepreneurial company, but even more about personal learning from that experience." — George P. Shultz, former secretary of Labor, Treasury, and State

Reader Targeting

• Entrepreneurs, business leaders, and professionals seeking insights on navigating industry disruption and scaling a company.
• Investors and financial history enthusiasts interested in the evolution of Wall Street and modern brokerage.
• Readers who enjoy deeply personal memoirs detailing resilience in the face of personal challenges like dyslexia and massive debt.

Bibliographic & Physical Specifications

Frequently Asked Questions

What period of financial history does Invested cover?
The memoir spans several decades, covering the launch of Schwab's discount brokerage in the 1970s, the 1987 stock market crash, the dot-com bubble of 2000, and the financial crisis of 2008, detailing how the company navigated each major event.

Is this book just a business history or is it a personal memoir?
It is a deeply personal memoir. In addition to corporate milestones, Charles Schwab openly discusses personal challenges, including his struggles with and ultimate embrace of dyslexia.

Does the author give investing advice in this book?
While the book focuses on his entrepreneurial journey and the principles that guided his business, it inherently contains foundational insights on risk management, market accessibility, and long-term financial perspectives.