I'm a RIA, and get lumped in with the idiots on the news recently (even though I'm far from Wall St...) and need a laugh from time to time. This is good example of the kind of "culture" Merrill Lynch still has: http://consumerist.com/5137704/thains-35000-commode-on-legs-actually-chest-of-drawers It's also a reason the Wirehouse model is a dying business. Funny article!
I have a relative pretty high up in Mer, but I haven't asked them about any of this. Better not go there.