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Types of accounts
Individual, Joint, Joint Ten. in common... are some of the basic accounts.  If these accounts incur any transactions that are taxable the accounts send out a Consolidated 1099 summary of taxable dividends, interest, income and sales proceeds.

Education IRA - It let you contribute tax deferred money for educational purpose.  This type of account sends a 5498 reporting contributions to the account.

Traditional IRA - Let you invest for retirement,  tax-deferred.  Withdrawals of deductible contributions are taxed as income but since income is usually less once you retire, you're taxed at a lower rate.  Income and age limits apply.  This accounts generate a 1099-R which reports all distributions from retirement plan accounts 

Roth IRA - Contributions are non-deductible, but withdrawals are tax free when taken after age 59 1/2, if the account has been open 5 years.  Eligibility requirements apply.

Rollover IRA - Allow you to move assets directly from an employer retirement plan such as a 401(k) and avoid certain taxes and withholdings for which you might otherwise be liable for if deposited in any other type of account...  Rollover IRA account, SEP and SIMPLE IRA's and any contributions made by an employer will generate a 5498.

If by any chance you are a foreign investor your account will generate a 1042-S which  report dividends, interest, and non-resident alien taxes withheld  for foreign investors.  

REMIC statements - Report on interest earned by Collateralized Mortgage Obligations (CMO's) and Real Estate Mortgage Investment Conduits (REMICs).  

K-1 - Reports any income or loss on a limited partnership.  The form is sent by the limited partnership

2439 - Reports undistributed long term capital gains.  Does not apply to retirement accounts.

Also note that these statement can be requested or accessed from your internet account and they may be generated at different month of the year.

 
Deep Discount Brokerage
 Deep discount, and full service... are some of the terms used what does it mean?  Well if we were to take all the brokerage firms in the world they would fall into a class by themselves and some very close to each other from the brokerage firms that I have listed on this site TD Waterhouse and Charles Schwab would be very close competitors and would rank as a deep discount firms with branch offices through out the states. Deep discount firms all brokerage firms have a customer service department in which they:
Research customer's account's from the beginning of the firm to present. 
Answer customer's questions such as Margin interest, Current position's in there account, Total Equity...
Basic account requirements, Commissions and Fees.

(note some charge depending on the amount of information require.) 

Some brokerage firms do not even have branches.  They believe that they can pass on the saving right back to the customers.  

 
Full Service Brokerage

Now, the full service brokerage firms Like Merill Lynch and Prudential charge more commission  but do supply better service and cater more to the upper class. However, I am glad we have so many brokerage firms available because they are competing with each other for our business.  The universe is much larger than I got listed here.  For example, Brown and Company has a commission of $5 but require a certain amount deposited in the account. 

 
Where do you fall in?
This is a starting point go to there site and find out which one serves you better. Construct a table with 
Brokerage firm name.    
Type of account you would like. (Joint, Joint ten in common, cash, margin with checking or without, Trust, IRA, and Retirement...)

Then ask questions such as.

What is your Minimum balance requirement? Do you get a check book?
What are the Market & Limit order cost? Also find out what is the maximum number of shares for Online, Touchtone phone and Broker Assisted Trades.
Do you have a local branch?
Custodial fees?
Account transfer fees?...

These are some of the important details. You can also request a commission schedule along with the application over the mail.

Here are some links that should help.    
fool.com/dbc/tables/compare.htm 
investorguide.com/brokerlist
money.cnn.com/best/brokers/
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Revised: September 13, 2002.
 
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