"The two CEOs and their respective companies agreed to merge at this time in part because they wanted to “stop being distracted by one another”, and make a move at competing with what they call the “big five” online brokers, Schwab, Fidelity, E*Trade, TD Ameritrade and Scottrade." ----- So the big five back then were these. TD Ameritrade and Scottrade have since combined. E*Trade needed a bail out a few years prior. Sad! Ally bought TradeKing after they bought other stuff so maybe they are part of new big 4? #acquisitions #stock_brokers #mergers #pub