Looking to ditch Ameritrade

[newlooks]

I've been with Ameritrade (or the companies that they've swallowed) for nearly a decade. For all of that time, I've been extremely happy with the quality of their website, the quality of their trading network and their ability to handle my business.

But lately I've been worried.

After reading things like these

(lost data a year ago) http://computerworld.com/action/arti...&intsrc=kc_top
(backdoor in Ameritrade's systems) http://it.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=07/09/14/1849239

and having an account problem whose handling has convinced me that the people at Ameritrade either don't understand or aren't particularly interested in security, I've lost confidence in them.

This is far too important to me to mess around with. While Ameritrade does have an insurance policy, I don't want to imagine what I'd have to go through if I actually had to claim something on it. As much as I've loved them thus far, it would be foolish of me not to move.

So, I'm looking for a new brokerage. The best description of what I'm looking for is "a security competent Ameritrade". I'm willing to pay up to $15 per trade and need

- A fast network like the one that Ameritrade offers
- Options trading, both in regular accounts and in IRA accounts
- Security, security, security
- Staff who answer the question that you asked, not the one that fits their form letter
- No nickel & diming

In much of europe, accounts require both a password and a number generated by a keyfob-type device for access. I'd be willing to go from the $10/trade that I pay now to $15/trade for that. Of course, this sort of approach works only if the brokerage company doesn't let hackers install backdoors on its systems.

I'd rather not go with a brokerage that is in the subprime mortgage business (hi, etrade!), thanks. Does anyone have any suggestions? I'd love to get a few hundred dollars for transferring my accounts, but this is less important than finding a competent brokerage.

As a side note: What the hel. happened to making sure that your staff knows something? Sure, you can save a few pennies by hiring dummies, but you're going to get it in the end (hi, mortgage brokers).

[krazykowboy]

Scottrade ain't too bad, they ben treatin my pretty fair

[Lou]

I have Scottrade and Schwab.