https://www.marketwatch.com/story/ma...3-06-05?page=1
"The best chance for the average investor is to put money in an index fund. There are lower commission rates and more professional management with these types of firms. It’s the safest and least likely place to get scammed. If you want to hold money with brokerage firms, go with major public firms. Chances are they will go with proper procedures and proper compliance. If regulators were checking my firm, they would have caught me sooner. This way you can avoid the mistake of putting your money at risk. Or, put your money in mutual funds, which are large enough to protect investors."