Who is a Stock Broker?
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A stockbroker is a financial expert whose main role is to help investors and traders buy and sell securities on the stock market.
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If you are new to the trading world, you must have had to go through many channels to begin your trading journey, including that of several stockbrokers. Stockbrokers are financial experts who help investors and traders throughout their trading journey. In other words, they act as the middlemen between traders and the stock market. Stockbrokers have the authority and expertise to help investors and traders carry out successful trades. Here, we will take a look at everything you need to know about stockbrokers.
A stockbroker is a financial expert whose main role is to help investors and traders buy and sell securities on the stock market. These stockbrokers could be working independently or be a part of a brokerage firm. However, their main job is to carry out trades according to what the inverter desires and to provide them with their expertise to help them make informed decisions.
Anyone wishing to be a stockbroker needs to register themselves with a recognized stock exchange, like the NSE ie. National Stock Exchange or the BSE i.e. Bombay Stock Exchange. Stockbrokers charge a fee or commission when they help traders carry out trades and this can vary from one stockbroker to another.
In the past few years, discount brokers have also become brokers of choice as they provide their expertise at a lower cost. There are of course certain differences between the two:
Traditional brokers need to pass strict exams and have in-depth market knowledge to get a license
Discount brokers require less expertise and the licensing requirements are less stringent.
This is why traders must look at their own financial and investment goals before picking one that aligns with them.
The role of a stockbroker is well-defined. Some of their main functions and duties include:
Managing an investor’s investment portfolio seamlessly
Carrying out buy and sell orders on a trader’s behalf
Analysing and interpreting the financial reports
Providing traders and investors with in-depth investment knowledge
Providing investors with investment suggestions that align with their financial and investment goals.
Once you have understood what a stockbroker is, here is a look at some of the major types of stockbrokers.
Jobbers
Jobbers are stockbrokers who only trade for themselves and not on behalf of traders or investors. They are not licensed to carry out buy and sell orders. The main way jobbers earn is through the difference between the buy and sell price, also known as the bid-ask spread.
Discount Brokers
Discount brokers happen to be the most popular kind of stockbroker that traders are thronging to nowadays. This is mainly because discount brokers provide a cost-effective, digital-first approach to their clients. When traders bring discount brokers on board, they can conduct trades online, which, in turn, eliminates the need to meet up in person. Other than that, as their name suggests, they charge low fees which makes investing more accessible even for investors who have limited funds.
Traders need to remember, however, that though discount brokers are more budget-friendly, they may not always offer the same level of expertise as traditional brokers.
Arbitrageurs
Arbitrageurs are stockbrokers who profit from the price differences between the different markets. They do this by buying stocks on one exchange, that is at a lower price and selling them on another exchange at a higher price.
Traditional or Full-Time Brokers
Full-time or traditional brokers are the original stockbrokers who provide traders and investors with a wide range of services. These could include anything from helping them trade in stocks, providing them with investment advice, helping them plan their retirement, helping them manage their portfolio and offering them insights when it comes to taxes.
Though compared to discount brokers they do charge higher commissions, they provide personalized service and expert guidance to their clients. Traditional brokers go through rigorous training and exams to become licensed stockbrokers. These stockbrokers bring with them deep market knowledge and can help traders maximize their profits while minimizing risks.
If you are someone who is looking to make it as a stockbroker, here are certain things you need to remember when it comes to the process and the qualifications.
Examination
If you want to officially work as a stockbroker, you need to pass the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority’s or FINRA’s General Securities Representative Exam. This is also known as the Series 7 exam. However, you need to remember that you cannot take this exam on your own and would need sponsorship from a FINRA member firm or a Self-Regulatory Organization (SRO).
Education
You don’t necessarily need a bachelor’s degree to become a stockbroker but it is definitely recommended, especially if you are looking forward to working with institutional clients. Something as basic as a degree in finance, business administration, or economics will provide potential stockbrokers with a solid foundation. A bonus would be if you know accounting principles, stock market regulations, financial forecasting & planning.
Experience
Other than taking the exam and having the right educational background, a majority of stockbrokers start by securing an entry-level role at brokerage firms. This is mainly done to gain experience in the financial markets while gaining more knowledge about accounting standards, regulatory compliance and investment strategies.
We understand that sometimes the roles and duties of a stockbroker and financial advisor might seem to overlap. However, their roles are quite different and that is exactly what we are going to dive deep into.
When it comes to a stockbroker, their main focus is on buying and selling securities like stocks and bonds on behalf of their clients. Stockbrokers are mostly involved in helping provide well-thought-out, short-term investment strategies for traders and their execution to make the best of market movements.
Stockbrokers generate income through commissions on transactions or they can also charge a particular amount as a fee on the trades executed.
A financial advisor, on the other hand, has a more holistic approach to managing their client’s finances. They can help guide their clients in matters like retirement and estate planning, tax strategies, insurance needs, budgeting and debt management as well.
Financial advisors generate income through the fees they charge which are based on assets under management (AUM) or through hourly consultation rates.
Now the trick is to understand which of the two workers is better for a trader. For traders looking for expert trade execution and short-term investment opportunities, the stockbroker would be the person of choice. However, if traders are looking for help with long-term financial planning and strategy, a financial advisor would work best.
What you need to understand about stockbrokers is that they are essentially a bridge between investors and the stock market. They help traders buy and sell various securities stocks, bonds, and other securities. Other than this, stockbrokers also provide insights into various investments and offer personalized advice and strategies to help clients make informed investment decisions.
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Disclaimer: Investments in the securities market are subject to market risk, read all related documents carefully before investing.
This content is for educational purposes only. Securities quoted are exemplary and not recommendatory.
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A stockbroker is a financial expert whose main role is to help investors and traders buy and sell securities on the stock market.
No, stockbrokers do not have access to insider information unless they are directly involved with a company in a way that grants them privileged access.
If you want to officially work as a stockbroker, you need to pass the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority’s or FINRA’s General Securities Representative Exam. Other than this, a bachelor’s degree and an understanding of accounting principles, stock market regulations, financial forecasting & planning would also be appreciated.
Stockbrokers generate income through commissions on transactions or they can also charge a particular amount as a fee on the trades executed.
You cannot change stockbrokers in the middle of trades. It can only be done once the trade is finished or you will have to close your position first to change your stockbroker.
A well-reputed online broker can be as reliable as a traditional one.
If you do not use a stockbroker then your access to the stock market stays limited and so does your knowledge of it leading to carrying out uninformed trades that could result in potential losses.
Level up your stock market experience: Download the Bajaj Broking App for effortless investing and trading