If your b/d is owned by an insurance company, is it really independent? In this environment, they have become the stepchildren and service has collapsed. But that is at almost any b/d, independent or not.

ING multifinancial

My opinion, I would stay away from broker-dealers owned by insurance companies and banks.  You only have to look at the past 3 - 5 years to witness how insurance companies treat their b/d subsidiaries – be diligent.