What is Assets Under Custody (AUC)
Assets Under Custody (AUC) represent the total value of assets a financial institution safeguards on behalf of clients. This includes a broad range of holdings, such as cash, stocks, bonds, and alternative investments such as real estate or private equity.
Unlike asset managers, custodians don’t make investment decisions or manage portfolios. Their role is administrative: ensuring assets are securely held, properly titled, and accurately reported for compliance purposes. This function is especially critical for retirement platforms and custodial institutions managing self-directed IRAs.
AUC is a common metric for assessing a custodian’s operational scale and client trust, especially in sectors where regulatory reporting, tax documentation, and alternative asset handling are essential.