Lose a little, gain a lot: That about sums up the result of Charles Schwab Corp.'s strategy of slashing fees in order to win back business. And back in business it is. In the fourth quarter, the broker's earnings of a record $187 million were more than triple that of a year earlier, with Schwab making $725 million (55 cent a share) for 2005, compared with $286 million (21 cent a share) in 2004. Commissions have dropped from $30.06 per trade at their peak in 2004 to $13.66 at the end of 2005 - moves that have presumably been instituted by Charles Schwab himself, who has returned to head the firm. Complementing the fee cuts, according to Associated Press, was an aggressive ad campaign that seems to be getting across the message to both old and new clients.