The stock market has been around a long time and it is still fundamentaly a good place.

Like all large organisations there are good AND bad. Overall I must maintain the opinion that brokers and brokerage houses are there to make money for their clients by facilitating business transactions. They hire the best they can. Sometimes screw up and must be held accountable. Most have safeguards to protect their clients. That is how they keep clients. That does not in any way preclude the fact that when you do business with anyone you are responsible for protecting your interest. You pick the companies you want to deal with and screan your advisors to your own interest.

1 branch of GS is in trouble and when you were getting dividends from them you were very happy and un-questioning.. payback is a bitch...(mangy female dog)