There are big capital, regulatory, manpower etc. barriers to entering the broker/dealer business as a self clearing BD.
Many new BDs outsource this function in the beginning. If they are successful as a BD and their daily order flow increases this outsourcing cost can represent a LOOOOOOT of $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$.
Often a successful Broker/Dealer will choose to vertically integrate the clearing functions in house once they have the capital, manpower, etc. One of the biggest risks, IMO, comes from the trading the firm does with customer's (YOUR) credit balances.
I believe one of the main reasons for the PDT rules is that the BDs can trade customer credits at 10 to 1 in the firm account if the credit is not free for the customer to trade.
PDT rules can really increase customer credits that are locked from trading by the customer but not the BD.
If you believe the PDT rules really have ANYTHING to do with protecting the customers, the public, then HARVEY P. and the SEC CO probably have some more good stories about the fairness of new issue distributions they would like to tell you at bedtime!!!!
But don't fall asleep on your stomach!!!!!
