Stockbroker

A stockbroker is a person who buys and sells stocks on behalf of another person (or company).

Function

A stock broker is useful in matching up stock buyers and sellers. A transaction on a stock exchange must be made between two members of the exchange - a typical person may not walk into the New York Stock Exchange (for example), and ask to trade stock. Such an exchange must be done through a broker.

In addition to actually trading stocks for their clients, stock brokers may also offer advice to their clients on which stocks, mutual funds, etc. to buy.

Online

Some newer brokers offer transaction services online in the form of a website interface. They usually offer low commisions, as low at one or two USD, and fast transaction rates, up to two seconds. An example of one such brokerage company would be Interactive Brokers.

History

Philadelphia was the center of American finance during the first forty years of the new United States. In 1790, the country's first stock exchange was founded there and Chestnut Street was home to the nation's most powerful financial institutions. However, in the 1820s a shift to New York City began and for more than one hundred and fifty years Wall Street has been synonymous with the stock brokerage business. A number of firms rose to prominence over that time with the top-ranked brokerages in the early 1950s being:

Since the 1980s stockbroking firms have also been allowed to be market makers as long as the appropriate Chinese walls are put in place.

With the advent of automated stockbroking systems on the Internet the client often has no personal contact with his/her stockbroking firm. The stockbroker's system performs all the stockbroking functions: it obtains the best price from the market and executes and settles the trade.

Today, most of the once well-known corporate brand names including mid-sized firms such as Smith Barney have been swallowed up by global financial conglomerates. Discount brokers (such as E-Trade, Scottrade, and Ameritrade) have taken a large share of the business by offering highly discounted commissions, but the companies do not offer investment advice in return--all they do is execute orders.

Similar roles

Roles similar to that of a stock broker include investment advisor, financial advisor, and probably many others. A stockbroker may or may not be also an investment advisor. Similarly, investment advisor may or may not be a stockbroker.

The Certified Financial Planner designation initially offered by the American College in Pennsylvania is considered by many to be the next educational step a stock broker can take in order to be consider a legitimate and ethical financial consultant.

Tips for using a stock broker

Using a stock broker for active management of a Stock/Mutual Fund Portfolio may be unnecessary when a passive management alternative is available for long term investing within the confines of a Tax-Sheltered Retirement Accounts.^{[citation needed]} However, many prefer to use and pay for the services of a broker because they feel more comfortable making decisions about their finances with the interactive guidance of a licensed professional.

When using a stock broker for financial guidance, one must be made aware that they do get paid on a commission, based on the stock/mutual fund they sell be it from the following: Class Distinction/Operating Expense Fees/ Services Fees/ Shareholder Fees. Thus a conflict of interest arises concerning a stock broker who offers his/her service as a financial planner, because their revenue is generated as a direct result of your investment in the stock/mutual fund that they broker to you. Thus your return on investment may not be as great, and the advice they give you might not be in your best interest. However, some mutual funds and stocks can only be purchased through a broker: in such cases their services are required to purchase the financial instrument in question.

A word of warning: A stock broker will not 'cold call' you. If you receive a call offering you shares at what seems an unfeasibly good deal, you are probably being contacted by a Boiler Room. If you suspect that you have been contacted in this way, you should check the link at the bottom of the page.

Acting as a principal

Stockbrokers also sometimes or exclusively trade on their own behalf, as a principal, speculating that a share or other financial instrument will increase or decline in price. In such cases the term broker makes little sense and the individuals or firms trading in a principal capacity sometimes call themselves dealers, stock traders or simply traders.

Transactions by stock brokers in the US and UK

In the US: When acting as an agent, the stockbroker typically charges the client a flat fee and/or a percentage-based commission for undertaking the trade, and the price quoted the client must be the best price available in the market. When acting as a principal, the trade could be with another market participant or one of the stockbroker's clients. When trading in a principal capacity with a client, the broker informs the client and charges the client a markup or markdown from the prevailing market price.

In the UK: When acting as an agent, the stockbroker charges the client a flat fee and/or a percentage-based commission for undertaking the trade, and the price quoted the client must be the best price available in the market. When acting as a principal, the trade could be with another market participant or one of the stockbroker's clients. When trading in a principal capacity with a client, the broker is obliged to inform the client and no commission is charged.

Other jurisdictions are thought to have similar rules.

Brokerage terms

Front office This is a description of the part of a brokerage firm that is "client facing". The sales staff, brokers and traders are part of the front office. Functions of the front office include acquisition and entry of orders, fulfillment of the orders, and all the regulatory reporting for the orders.

Back office The back office is where the clearance processing of the trades is done. Transfer of securities and money and the tracking of "failure to deliver" is handled. Securities lending for a brokerage firm, wherein shares of a security that is being sold short are located to ensure they can be delivered, is usually included in the back office as well.

Famous stock brokers

Larry "Buster" Crabbe - Actor and former Olympic swimmer, Crabbe became a stockbroker and businessman after a career in film.
Brian Dennehy - An actor, Dennehy worked as a broker for a time at the same firm as Martha Stewart.
Edward Francis Hutton - Founder of the firm known for its slogan: "When E. F. Hutton talks, people listen." In the late '20s and early '30s, Hutton was married to cereal heiress Marjorie Merriweather Post. Hutton's daughter with Post was actress Dina Merrill, the one-time wife of actor Cliff Robertson. Hutton's namesake firm imploded into bankruptcy in the 1970s.
Michael Milken - The financier came to fame at Drexel Burnham Lambert in the 1980s.
George Murphy - Silent film and early talkies star Murphy worked for a time as a Wall Street runner.
William A. Paine - co-founder of Paine Webber.
Hemish Shah - Late English poker player, who left stocks for poker, going on to win a World Series of Poker bracelet.
Martha Stewart - After she gave up modelling in the late 60s, Stewart worked as a broker on Wall Street for 7-8 years before launching her lifestyle business.