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What is a Stock Broker?

Darrell Laurant
Darrell Laurant

Looking for a stock broker? Prepare to be a little confused. There are full-service stock brokers and discount stock brokers, representing a myriad of brokerage firms. There are execution only, advisory and discretionary dealing stock brokers. You can interact with your stock broker online or on the phone, and you can either bring your own plan to the table or rely completely on the broker's expertise.

While the term "broker" might make some investors a bit uncomfortable in these stark economic times, the word actually means "one who acts as an agent for another." In the case of a stock broker, this can be done on various levels. An "execution only" arrangement puts most of the burden on the client, who calls the broker and simply provides instructions on what to buy or sell. Advisory dealing still leaves the decision with the client, but the stock broker may offer offer background information and suggestions. Finally, with a "discretionary" relationship, the stock broker is given free rein to use his or her own judgment.

Stock brokers may advise people to sell or invest in particular stocks.
Stock brokers may advise people to sell or invest in particular stocks.

The stock market is, at its core, a gamble. What the stock broker does is to bet your money that the price of a certain share of stock will rise beyond what you pay for it -- if not immediately, at least in the long term. A broker may also advise you to sell a certain stock that seems to have peaked, or is rumored to be on the verge of a fall.

A full-service broker might deal with other financial entities, such as annuities and bonds, as well as stocks. At the other end of the spectrum is the discount broker, whose relationship is generally conducted through execution only. The pool of knowledge required to be an effective stock broker is immense. Not only must the broker be on intimate terms with the rules and quirks of the market, but he or she must also be able to process information about various companies with an eye toward whether that stock is likely to go up or down.

A full-service broker might deal with other financial entities, such as annuities and bonds, as well as stocks.
A full-service broker might deal with other financial entities, such as annuities and bonds, as well as stocks.

In order to reach that position of authority, a prospective broker must pass two comprehensive examinations. Almost all of them them work for brokerage houses, and they are paid in various ways. Some work on commission from the customer, some work on a fixed salary, and some combine both.

What kind of broker to choose depends on a number of factors. If you are a person who enjoys playing the market and relishes the thrill of the gamble, a discount broker might be the way to go. If you are hoping to grow your retirement nest egg a little without taking a great many risks, you would probably want to turn over more responsibility to your broker. Obviously, the more input and services a broker offers, the higher the price or commission.

Discussion Comments

Luvs2travel

I have an interesting situation involving my father's brokerage firm of 20 plus years. I was an "interested party" on his account so I received monthly statements of his investments. When the account was originally set up with this firm all investments had beneficiaries so when he passed away last week and we learned his account had *no* beneficiaries listed, we now have to probate this account, which holds the majority of his assets. Other assets that I handled such as CDs, etc., all were set up with PODs or beneficiaries. I had no reason to think that his main account handled by "investment advisers" no longer listed beneficiaries. I was told that over the years his investments had changed and the investments he was now in didn't have beneficiaries...they needed to be set up as a trust.

My dad was elderly and did not know what a trust was, never mentioned any conversations to his children about it, and as "interested party" I never was told anything about the situation. Are we wrong to expect notification of something like this and is there anything that can be done now? Thanks

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    • Stock brokers may advise people to sell or invest in particular stocks.
      By: Stephen VanHorn
      Stock brokers may advise people to sell or invest in particular stocks.
    • A full-service broker might deal with other financial entities, such as annuities and bonds, as well as stocks.
      By: Minerva Studio
      A full-service broker might deal with other financial entities, such as annuities and bonds, as well as stocks.