BrightScope.com provides online records -- at no charge -- on nearly 450, 000 financial professionals, from commission-based brokers to fee-only advisers.

WSJ: Borrowers Could See Higher Interest Rates

Insurance brokers defended the fee flow and said it never tainted their advice.

FORBES: Pulling the Plug on Marsh

As a result of the market downturn and weak-performing proprietary products, brokers have seen the fee-based compensation they receive related to client assets drop dramatically.

FORBES: Hookers Without Pimps: Brokers Flee Their Wirehouse Masters

But now there is a whole new army of brokers that will be fiduciaries too, except unlike an objective fee-only adviser these brokers will still be tempted by the bribe of a big fat commission.

FORBES: Financial Reform Bill Will Shaft Consumers

Brokers typically earn a percentage fee on the transactions they facilitate.

BBC: RBS: The embarrassing transcripts

Brokers are paid a 3% fee to sell these things, which comes out of the profits Bank of America makes by capping the returns.

FORBES: Magazine Article

Advisors typically collect higher fees for trading strategies, brokers collect more commissions, exchanges earn a fee from each transaction, and market makers gorge themselves on the bid-ask spread.

FORBES: ETF Industry Says Old and Dumb Buy Mutual Funds

In addition, the management fee income also decreased considerably and many of the brokers moved on to greener pastures (stable firms).

FORBES: What Led The Once Dominant Commercial Real Estate Firm Grubb & Ellis Into Bankruptcy?

Brokers possess broad discretion over where they set their fees relative to published fee schedules.

FORBES: Price Wars Heat Up Investment World

Fee-fronting appears to be a common way less reputable brokers help the desperately ill part with their money.

FORBES: On The Cover/Top Stories