If you have no choice but to stay in the US, then i'd say TD Ameritrade appears a "better" bet. Even though it suggests that it is aCanadian institution, I asked and they said that they are totally American and are not guaranteed by the Canadians.
The other thing to do is transfer your money out....opening an account at a Kantonel Bank in switzerland is a really good and safe play. Kantonel banks are sponsored, and I think partly state owned therefore they cannot play around with money. This even moreso than a private swiss bank.....hope that helps! The account does not need to be numbered, though they can be...you're doing it for safety not to hide assets necessarily, there is no harm therefore.
