Preferred stock is one of the two types of stock issued by corporations seeking to bring in capital. As with common stocks or bonds, the money that is received from the sale of these shares goes into the company coffers in return for the issuance of the shares to the shareholders.
Although preferred stock does share similarities with common stock, its basic characteristics make it a fundamentally different security. Preferred stock is designed to function primarily as a fixed-income security, whereas common stock is usually considered to be a vehicle for long-term growth that often does not deliver a regular income stream. The nature and purpose of preferred stocks offers shareholders several unique advantages when compared to other investments.



Many types of mutual funds are primarily designed to pay income to investors in various forms. Some income funds invest in
Millions of employees save for retirement by deferring a portion of their compensation into an employer-sponsored, tax-deferred savings plan. The majority of these are known as qualified plans and fall under the jurisdiction of
In generations past, the financial marketplace consisted of insurance agents who sold whole and term life insurance, stockbrokers who pitched individual stocks and bonds, accountants who prepared income tax returns and did corporate accounting, and bankers who offered customers security with
From the time that traders gathered under a buttonwood tree on Wall Street until the 1970s, stockbrokers were known primarily as salespersons who got rich by recommending stocks and bonds to wealthy speculators. And while many brokers still do this today, the role of stockbrokers has evolved and expanded considerably over the past few decades. Those who decide to explore this career path will face many challenges, but can also reap substantial monetary rewards.
The complex world of
Millions of securities transactions of all types and sizes take place every day in the United States. You may invest in mutual funds through your
The
Benefits make up a key element of any employee compensation package. As a result, employers must fully understand how they work in order to use them to best meet their employees’ needs.
The Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) designation is the oldest financial credential in existence. The American College for Financial Planning in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania created it specifically for life insurance agents in 1927, and it’s been carried by insurance professionals ever since.
For decades, the Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) designation was the premier financial and insurance planning credential sported by life insurance agents and financial planners who marketed their products and services to the public.
The Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation is globally considered to be the premier investment management designation in the financial industry. The three levels of rigorous exams required in the CFA curriculum leave lawyers and CPAs as the only other professionals whose pre-certification requirements rival those of the CFA.
Since 1985, the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards has issued the Certified Financial Planner designation to those who have met the educational and experiential requirements and passed the rigorous board exam. This credential is now known all over the world as the definitive professional designation for financial planners and advisors.
When you participate in an IRA (e.g. 
