Quote from AAAintheBeltway:
I need to recommend a broker for an investor with maybe $500k in assets. Needs are free checkwriting, reasonable commish, very reliable platform/backoffice, and absolute security of assets. Does not want salesmen calling or any handholding. Prelim research showed Fidelity to look good, Schwab ok but more expensive. I know there were questions about ETrade account security, so they are out.
Any advice much appreciated.
ps. They are currently using Harris, which apparently is ideal, but they are being acquired by ETrade.
I've had 4 accounts for longer term investing (2 IRA's, 2 regular brokerage) with E*Trade for over 5 years. Never a problem. I certainly don't use them for my short term/daytrading. The couple incidents posted here on ET about problems with money being wired out should be considered but there are ways to protect yourself and your account. E*Trade the RSA Security key that changes its code every 60 seconds. There are lots of people using the internet who are susceptible to phishing emails, have no firewall and other weaknesses that allow hackers and identity thieves to compromise their ID, passwords, banking account numbers, etc. I'd bet $$$ that it is these people who become the victims of account fraud.