The 4 Ways To Buy And Sell Securities

One key aspect in investing that we sometimes overlook is how to buy different securities. With the introduction of lower commission rates, loosening of regulatory regulations, and increased public interest in investing, the financial industry is blooming with different avenues for buying and selling stocks, bonds, and mutual funds. In North America, there are four main avenues of trading investment securities:

1. through brokerages,
2. directly from the company that issues them,
3. through banks, and
4. through individual investors.

One of the most common, and easiest, ways of buying and selling stocks, mutual funds, and bonds is through a brokerage house. These companies typically require you to open an account with them, and deposit funds as an act of good faith. Brokerages are popular because they, rather than you, do much of the behind-the-scenes work, allowing you to focus on when and what to buy or sell. They look after things like completing the paperwork involved in transferring the ownership of stock, and ensuring dividend payments. (Choosing the right broker is an important first step for new investors. Find out what to look for in Picking Your First Broker.)

Brokers are put into two different classes. Here we discuss the differences in the ways in which these two types of brokerages transact orders.

Full-Service Broker
In the past, this was the main method for investors to enter into the securities market. Investors would simply contact their full-service brokers and have them purchase different stocks and bonds. These transactions are quite straightforward, and full-service brokers will typically call their clients and provide recommendations for buying or selling particular securities.

Today, these brokers are not quite as popular, but with so many different investment products available, almost all full-service brokers are able to transact stocks, bonds, and mutual funds. (To learn more about what this type of broker has to offer, read Full-Service Brokerage Or DIY?)

Discount Broker
Discount brokerages have become increasingly popular with investors thanks to their ever-decreasing commission fees. These brokerages, like large supermarkets, provide investors with almost everything they need at a low cost. However, this also means that investors have to do most of the work themselves. At almost all discount brokerages, you can buy stocks, bonds, or mutual funds either by calling one of the investment representatives, or by transacting these securities yourself on the internet.

The commission for calling in to a discount broker will cost more than completing the transaction online, but the motions are all pretty much the same. First, you have to enter an order ticket. Don't be intimidated; the order ticket merely states the type of security you want to purchase (whether it's a bond, stock. or mutual fund), the price you want to buy it for, the quantity you would like to buy, and the duration for which you want to leave the order valid (e.g., one day to one month). The order ticket must be completed – whether by yourself, on your computer, or by your broker, while getting your instructions over the telephone. After everything is filled out completely and correctly, the order is sent to the exchange, where the stock, bond, or mutual fund is bought or sold at whatever terms are on the order ticket.

More often than not, the method of transacting directly with the issuing company is more difficult than buying and selling securities through the broker; albeit transacting directly does have advantages.

When evaluating this transaction method, there are a few unique considerations. First, are you comfortable with holding the securities yourself? When you buy stocks and bonds directly from the issuer, they will be held in certificates, either in bearer form or registered form, which means that you are responsible for the safekeeping of the security. If you lose a security in bearer form, there is no way to retrieve it; the person who finds it is the proud new owner of your stock. If you lose a security in registered form, in order to be issued a new certificate you must undertake the process of contacting the issuing company. This problem or concern, however, doesn't arise with mutual funds because you don't actually hold units individually.

Second, do you need access to the funds immediately? When you are selling mutual funds, you must typically wait three days after the transaction date before you can receive any cash. This is irrespective of whether you bought into the fund through a brokerage or via the actual issuing firm. The wait for stocks and bonds, however, can be significantly longer. If you want to sell instruments that are in registered form, you have to sign the back of each certificate, and then send them to the issuing company before you can receive any cash. Obviously, there's always some concern about whether the certificates will get there in a timely and complete manner.

Third, how important is the price of purchase or sale to you? If you are a penny pincher and like to buy stocks, bonds, and mutual funds for the cheapest possible market price, dealing directly with the business may not be suitable for you. Freedom to choose a transaction price becomes limited when you buy directly from the company. When you buy stocks and bonds directly from an issuer, you will typically have to buy them at a price set by the issuer, and sell them back at another set price.

After taking the above into account, here are some advantages to buying and selling direct. Businesses typically have few restrictions on the minimum number of units being purchased. Some brokerages require minimum initial mutual fund purchases of $1,000, whereas if you buy directly from the issuer, the minimum can go down to $500 or less. Additionally, you don't need to have an account, which sometimes requires a minimum balance and penalizes long-term investors with inactivity fees.

Although most banks don't sell stocks, they do offer mutual funds and bonds, but their selection will be limited to funds offered by the bank itself or through its partners. Banks also provide for a convenient location to buy bonds and mutual funds: you can simply walk to just about any corner bank and purchase these investments on the spot.

When you do go into a bank, the representative helping you should be able to tell you the different characteristics and minimum purchase amounts of the products available for purchase.

In theory, you can buy and sell securities individually (outside of an exchange). Suppose that a friend has a stock that you would like to buy, or a relative who needs the funds immediately would like to sell you a bond. It can be done, but this method of transacting securities poses a significant risk: you must trust the person with whom you are dealing with, and make sure you are not being scammed. For instance, you could be sold a false, laser-copied certificate.

If you are set on doing this type of transaction, you will, for most stocks and bonds, only have to sign the back of the certificates, which can then be sold to another party. If you are trying to buy them, the other party will have to sign them over to you. After the security certificates are signed, they must then be sent back to the company, to be reregistered under the name of the new owner.

There are many ways to buy and sell securities; each comes with its own advantages, difficulties, and risks. Whether you decide to deal with a full-service or discount broker, issuing company, bank, friend, or a relative, there are many options out there. Do make sure that you've done your homework and identified the route that is optimal for you.

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