Back to the original post. Here is an article on CNBC.com that you might find interesting.
http://www.cnbc.com/id/26736505
This seems to be the most important section for investors to know when it comes to accounts and insurance on those accounts:
If any assets are missing, the corporation [Securities Investor Protection Corporation] will insure an account up to $500,000; of that amount, it can insure up to $100,000 in cash. But the maximum amount covered can be much higher. For instance, if you have a brokerage account, a joint brokerage account with a spouse, an I.R.A. and a 401(k), each account would receive up to $500,000, Mr. Harbeck explained, totaling $2 million in protection.