Charles Schwab is VaultRubric's pick: it scores 78.4% vs Vanguard's 75.4% (a 3.0-point lead).
Data as of · Last updated · By VaultRubric Research · How we score · Not investment advice.
Charles Schwab and Vanguard are two of the most searched places to open a Roth IRA. Both list a Roth IRA on their official pages; here they are scored with IRA options and costs weighted highest, using only our sourced data. Fund selection and expense ratios inside the IRA are not scored.
Rates change often — verify on the bank's or broker's site before opening an account. Every value shows its as-of date; ⚑ marks figures from third-party sites. Not financial advice.
VaultRubric pick: Charles Schwab
Weights: Trading costs 17%, Account minimum 14%, IRA options 23%, Transfer-out fee 11%, Protection (SIPC) 17%, Regulatory record 17%
| # | Broker | Score | Options/contract | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Charles Schwab | 78.4% cov 100% | $0.65 src · 2026-10-11 | Regulatory: FINRA: $175K fine + censure: failed to report/timely report ~2.8M fractional-share trades (2018–2025); Regulatory: SEC: $10M civil penalty for off-channel communications recordkeeping failures; Regulatory: SE |
| 2 | Vanguard | 75.4% cov 100% | $1.0 src · 2026-10-11 | Regulatory: FINRA: $950K fine + censure (Vanguard Marketing Corp.): inaccurate cost-basis info on statements/1099s ~2012–2023; Regulatory: SEC: $106.41M re target-date fund capital gains disclosures |
| Fact | Schwab | Vanguard |
|---|---|---|
| Stock/ETF commission | $0 src · 2026-10-11 | $0 src · 2026-10-11 |
| Options (per contract) | $0.65 src · 2026-10-11 | $1.0 src · 2026-10-11 |
| Account minimum | $0 src · 2026-10-10 | $0 src · 2026-10-11 |
| Fractional shares | Yes src · 2026-10-10 | not found |
| IRA types | Traditional, Roth, Rollover, SEP, SIMPLE src · 2026-10-10 | Traditional, Rollover, Roth, SEP, Custodial src · 2026-10-10 |
| IRA match | None ⚑ third-party source src · 2026-10-10 | None advertised src · 2026-10-10 |
| Transfer-out fee | $50 src · 2026-10-11 | $100 src · 2026-10-11 |
| SIPC member | Yes src · 2026-10-10 | Yes src · 2026-10-10 |
| FINRA CRD | CRD 5393 src · 2026-10-10 | CRD 7452 src · 2026-10-10 |
| Regulatory actions (5 yrs) | 2026-09-02 FINRA: $175K fine + censure: failed to report/timely report ~2.8M fractional-share trades (2018–2025) src 2025-01-13 SEC: $10M civil penalty for off-channel communications recordkeeping failures src 2022-06-13 SEC: ~$187M for misleading robo-adviser (Intelligent Portfolios) clients about hidden cash fees src | 2026-09-23 FINRA: $950K fine + censure (Vanguard Marketing Corp.): inaccurate cost-basis info on statements/1099s ~2012–2023 src 2025-01-17 SEC: $106.41M re target-date fund capital gains disclosures src |
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On this rubric, Charles Schwab scores highest. Your answer depends on your priorities; adjust the weights in the tool.
Only from our curated dataset (official pages, regulators, and flagged third-party sites), with fixed formulas shown in “Show math”. No AI or live scraping, so the same comparison always gives the same result. Not financial advice.