Which custodians have the most RIA assets?

For an RIA, no business-to-business relationship is more important than the one the firm has with its custodian.

The bedrock of trust clients place with their advisor is embedded in the services the custodian provides: protecting assets, servicing accounts and ensuring compliance with government regulations.

And a custodian's expertise is equally indispensable for advisors in helping them support their business and run their back office.

“What’s the best RIA custodian to use?” is one of the most common questions Financial Planning contributing writer Michael Kitces says he hears from both existing RIAs and advisors launching new firms.

So how do custodians stack up when it comes to servicing RIAs?
Here's an exclusive look at key metrics for the industry's leading custodians – Charles Schwab, Fidelity Clearing & Custody Solutions, Pershing Adviser Solutions and TD Ameritrade – in the RIA market.

All data was provided by the companies, except where an asterisk notes an industry estimate.