How safe are our brokerages?

["neo" <neo1@xxxxxxxxx>]

With 
the onset of major bankruptcies, I think it is important to consider the 
security of your broker. Besides Enron (world's 7th largest company), K-Mart 
(world's 3rd largest retailer), and JP Morgan, many other well established 
companies are in trouble. Many of the newer online brokerages and mutual funds 
are part of the dotcom era. I wonder how solvent they are?
<SPAN 
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I just 
finished reading an article about what I felt was one of the most secure 
(although expensive) online brokerages. In Q3 2001, Schwab's trades were down 
26% from Q3 2000. In response Schwab has begun selling investment advice.  
This is not making Schwab's independent advisors happy and they account for 1/3 
of it's total client assets. In addition, estimates are that Schwab's 2001 net 
income is down 50% from 2000.
<SPAN 
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<SPAN 
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<SPAN 
class=290490420-18012002>How can we tell how solvent out broker 
is?
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<SPAN 
class=000501519-18012002>neo