11.   Retail brokerages often offer a model portfolio to their clients as a way to optimize the return on their investments.

12.   The closest model is Merrill Lynch, the only firm that successfully blends investment banking, retail stock brokerage and a huge asset management company.

13.   The company is trading its retail brokerage with ETrade in exchange for EOffering, an online investment bank.

14.   Reuters later aborted its plan for a branded retail brokerage.

15.   Reuters has since aborted its plan for a branded retail brokerage.

16.   The scale of the merger -- placing investment banking, commercial banking, retail brokerage and insurance under one roof - staggers the imagination.