Whether seeking to begin investing or even after investing for many years, many people can benefit from investment advice.  The realities of investing are constantly changing and it takes constant attention and review to understand the changes in the markets and to learn effective investing strategies.  The following are some reasons to seek investment advice:

1. You are just beginning to invest and need to learn how, when, and where to invest your money.

2. You want to establish a retirement plan or a college fund for your children.

3.  You have recently obtained a large sum of money and want to put it to start earning you profits safely and effectively.

Investment advice should almost always be sought by an established professional who has a good track record helping clients invest profitably.  While you may think any advice can be helpful, investment advice is only helpful when it comes from a good source.  The following are some good sources of investment advice:

1. A Certified Financial Planner helps clients with all aspects of their personal or business finances.  These professionals advice often comes at a high price, however they can be a valuable resource for ensuring your finances are well protected and invested properly.

2. Your stock broker can be a good source of investment advice, especially if your stock broker has been involved in trading and investments for a long period of time.  However, you must be cautious , as your stock broker may persuade you to invest more actively, which would require more commission fees.

3. The internet can provide some good advice, however it can be very difficult to sort through the bad advice.  When looking for advice on the internet, always look in numerous places to substantiate claims.  Do not rely on a single expert, instead check with others to ensure you are investing safely.

There are several areas where you should be cautious when seeking investment advice.  

1. Always be cautious of insider trading issues that may arise if you obtain advice from corporate “insiders”.  And insider can be anyone who has information that can affect a stock price that is not public information.  If you are unsure whether you are at risk for insider trading, consult with a professional or err on the side of caution and do not act on this advice.

2. Ensure that a financial advisor is certified to provide such information.  An unlicensed and unqualified professional giving advice will often provide poor advice.  

3.  Always be cautious of investment advice from family members and friends who are inexperienced in investing.  Often, they will provide information that they think is good, but you cannot be sure of their source or even if they can provide good advice.

A Thrift Savings Plan is a retirement plan that is designated specifically for United States Civil Service employees, retirees and uniformed servicemen.  The Thrift Savings Plan is divided into three parts:  The Federal Employees Retirement System, Federal Employees Retirement System Annuity and Social Security.

The Federal Employees Retirement System is developed to mimic the 401(k) savings plan in the private sector.  Once an individual enters the United States Civil Service or the United States Armed Forces he, or she, is automatically enrolled in the Thrift Savings Plan.  In addition the Civil Servant or Serviceman is automatically vested in the thrift savings plan when they become active.

The Thrift Savings Plan allows for a maximum of $16,500 in annual contributions to the thrift savings plan.  There is an automatic 3% allocation of the individuals’ salary into the thrift savings plan yearly.  This is the default plan and a service member who wishes to allocate more must proactively do so.  In addition, if a member of the Civil Service or Armed forces is over the age of 50 they are eligible for “catch up” contributions.  This means that those eligible individuals may increase their yearly contributions by $5,500, allowing them a total allocation to the thrift savings plan of $22,000.  

The advantages of the thrift savings plan are much akin to a 401(k) in that the amount that is contributed to the plan is not taxed until it is taken out of the thrift savings plan in the future.  Another advantage is that the federal government contributes to the thrift savings plan by making an “agency automatic contribution.” The agency automatic contribution consists of an automatic dollar for dollar contribution to the individuals’ thrift savings plan up to 3% of the individuals’ contribution.  After the 3% threshold is met the federal government will match 50% of the individuals’ contribution up to 5% of the individuals’ salary.  Any amount contributed by the individual in excess of 5% of his, or her, salary will not be matched afterwards.

There are 10 investing options that a member of the Civil Service or Armed Forces will have in investing in their thrift savings plan.  These investments include 5 individual funds and 5 lifecycle funds.  These investments are in the form of trust funds that are managed by the Office of The Comptroller of the Currency.  If you are eligible to enter into a thrift savings plan then it is wise to discuss the various options with the appropriate personnel in the federal government

An investment banker is a professional who assists individuals, corporations, and government agencies to raise capital by underwriting or helping the issuance of securities.  An investment banker can provide services for mergers, acquisitions, market making, derivative trading, and commodities.

Investment bankers are very different from commercial or retail bankers, who take deposits from clients and function as a safe place to hold cash or other funds.  Instead, the investment banker focuses more on providing services in regards to the establishment and maintenance of securities.  In the United States, investment bankers and retail bankers were required by law to be separated by the Glass-Steagall Act of 1933.  However, a recent shift in policy in 1999 eliminated this separation.

Investment bankers will usually specialize in one of two areas of investment banking.  

1. Some investment bankers focus on facilitating transactions between stockholders and corporations through public or private stock exchanges.  

2. Other investment bankers focus on promoting securities, which requires the use of pension funds, mutual funds, hedge funds, and public investors.  

When seeking the services of an investment banker, you must look for the following characteristics:

1. First, ensure that the investment banker is properly licensed as a broker-dealer, subject to the rules of the SEC and FINRA regulations.

2. Select an investment banker who specializes with similar clients as you.  Some investment bankers will work primarily with large market cap corporations, while some work solely with small start-ups or individual investors.

3.  Choose an investment banker who typically works on either the buy side or sell side of investment transactions, depending on the services you are seeking.

Finding an investment banker that is right for you will require some research and work in order to assure your investment banker is qualified to handle your investment banking needs.  Investment bankers are often listed in banking directories or listings available through small business resources or even the internet.  

Seek recommendations from others in your line of work.  Typically, an investment banker will specialize in a certain area of business, so you can check with other similarly situated business people to determine what investment bankers they use and which they would recommend.

While investment bankers can work for investment firms both small and large, most business is conducted through the major global investment firms.  The following is a list of the world’s top five largest investment banks:

1. J.P. Morgan

2. Bank of America

3. Goldman Sachs

4. Morgan Stanley

5. Credit Suisse

The above investment banks provide all types of investment banking services that are sought by both individuals and companies.  While recent economic troubles have had a large effect on these banking institutions, their services are still needed through the financial world.  These firms employ thousands of investment bankers, who are often on multi-member teams aimed at helping both large and small companies.  

Investment management is a professional service which helps individuals and corporate entities handle their various securities holdings while trying to achieve specific financial goals through investment and savings.  Investment management can refer to both individualized management of securities or collective management of securities for cooperative financial instruments.  Cooperative financial instruments can include mutual funds, exchange traded funds, or even some large pension funds.  

Investment management professionals may specialize in some of the following areas:

1. Managers of collective or cooperative instruments.

2. Advisory or discretionary investment management, who typically work with high net worth individuals, providing specific advice for their large portfolios.  

3. Commercial investment management professionals, who work for large banks, helping both corporate and private clients manage their investment funds.

Understanding the process of investment management can greatly enhance how you select an investment manager that is right for you.  The following is a breakdown of how an investment manager can help the management of your assets:

1. Determining investment objectives and restrictions.  Your investment manager will work with you to understand what you want want to achieve through your investments and the restrictions you may face.  

2. Your investment manager will then work with you to determine what mix of financial instruments you should invest in, particularly to diversify your holdings to protect and make best use of your finances.  This step can vary greatly depending on the investing philosophy of the manager and the risks you are willing to make.

3. The investment manager will then actively seek out the stocks, bonds, and derivatives that compliment your investment strategy.  Securities can fluctuate greatly, so the type of investments may change depending when you are entering the market or the potential changes that may occur.

4. Once your plan is set and the proper instruments chosen, the investment manager will actively put your portfolio into effect, purchasing and trading for the correct mix of securities needed to create your investment portfolio.

5. From time to time, your portfolio will need to be modified, expanded, or contracted depending on changes in the market or changes in your financial situation.

When searching for investment management firms, it is important that you find one that has professionals that can meet your needs and has experience with other similar clients.

1. Look for investment management firms in banking listings, which can be found through banking institutions or even on the internet.  

2. Seek recommendations from similarly situated people or corporations who have used investment managers in the past.  Listen intently on the type of service they provide and whether they were happy with the service provided.

3.  Check with regulatory agencies, such as the SEC or FINRA, to determine if an investment manager has any complaints or investigations against them.  Avoid any investment management firm that has acted improperly in the past.  

Every investor should diversify their investments to manage risk.  This means investing in various assets across markets as well as different assets within the market and reducing the amount of investment in one asset to invest in another.

Hedging and diversifying are both risk management strategies in investing portfolios but have significant differences.  For one, hedging allows profitable investments to be leveraged against negative assets thus having the profitable assets compensate for losses on riskier investments.  Having insurance would be one example of hedging against a possible risk.  Diversifying is different in that the amount in an investment is reduced to purchase another investment, thus spreading risks through multiple investments.

For instance, in diversifying:

You own 50,000 shares of Stock A valued at $1 per share, for a total value of $50,000.

To diversify, you sell 20,000 shares of Stock A and use the $20,000 proceeds to buy shares in Stock B and C.  Stock B is valued at $2 a share and you buy 5,000 shares.  Stock C is valued at $.50 and you buy 20,000 shares.

You now have a diversified portfolio that manages risk by splitting the investments into three assets that will gain and lose value independent of each other.  Hedging compensates for risk through the sale of stocks from competitors or other relatively risk-free investments.

The simplest way to diversify is to buy other stocks strategically.  You will generally want to avoid stocks in an industry similar to the primary investment as losses generally spread through an industry as a result of news affecting the entire industry.  It is unlikely that all stocks in a diversified portfolio will fall but one single stock or stocks invested heavily in a specific industry possess significant risk for the typical investor.  It will sometimes be best to see the aid of a financial advisor if there are familiar with stocks that they can invest in to diversify their portfolio.  The financial advisor will also be able to determine “risk parity,” which is the comparative risk of all assets in the portfolio and suggest ways to improve parity to the benefit of the client.

Many studies have proven conclusively that most portfolios with multiple, diverse assets faced a lower standard deviation in annual returns, reflecting the relative stability diversity provides.  The more stocks in a diversified portfolio, the lesser the impact of the stock, negative or positive, on the overall portfolio.  Diversification of assets is almost certainly one of the best ways to manage risks outside of hedging, which will usually require the time and expertise of a financial advisor.

All investing carries risk and one should only invest when they understand these risks and have knowledge on their investment.  If the prospective investor cannot identify company or industry then there is no hope that the investor will be able to make an informed and ration investing decision.

Many Forex traders rely of Forex signals services to alert them on changes or possible changes to “pips” that represent potential profit and loss opportunities.  This sort of micro analysis of the Forex market that benefits day traders is generally provides by third parties that use a combination of statistical and mathematic projections as well as professional expertise to send warnings and notifications, usually through SMS to traders that subscriber to the service.

As is the case with all investment services, be skeptical of claims made by the service and promises of guaranteed profits.  You also need to be skeptical of claims that promise to increase your investments by a significant percentage with only a relatively minor initial investment.  These numbers generally do not reflect the average investor’s experience.

You will need to study the methodology by which the signals are determined to understand if the Forex signals are right for you.  The best Forex signals use a clearly defined and logical projection model as well as the input of professionals in Forex trading.  Predicting the market with any level of accuracy is difficult, if not impossible.  A good Forex signals provider will acknowledge this and provide you with the opportunity to review their recent track record in evaluating the market.  Good Forex signals providers will explicitly warn you about the risks of investing and will promise to be nothing more than a helpful guide rather than the holy grail of Forex day trading.

Lucky for the investor, there are only a few major currencies in the Forex market.  This means that the typical trader will only need to focus on developments in the US, Canada, Eurozone, Great Britain, Australia, Switzerland and Japan.  Any other currencies are risker and less common investments that require special attention.  Political and economic trends are as important when determining Forex signals as mathematical projections important.  As such, national bank movements such as cutting interest rates will have a measurable impact on the pips of a currency and the Forex signals need to reflect this.  The investor of course, must also be aware of such important news and rumors and cannot rely on Forex signals alone when engaging in day trading.

When investing alone, the individual Forex day trader must determine where and when to exit and enter a currency market.  This is of course a daunting task and here is no right answer.  Many Forex signals providers will determine appropriate entrance and exit parameters and recommend that the day trader follow them.  This is of course to the discretion of the trader to follow this advice.  Many traders will find the best way to take advantage of Forex signals is when programming those recommendations into an automatic Forex trading program.  Therefore, they will be able to take full advantage of the Forex signal and act quickly before the opportunity evaporates.

 

How to Calculate Returns on Investments

 

 

Whenever you make an investment, you have the change to make more money on it, which is called a return. For example, if you put money in a bank account pays, you receive interest which is the return investment. You earn a small amount of interest on this investment because you allow the bank to hold on to your money. The bank then lends your money to other people or organizations at a higher interest rate.

 

 

Many investment calculators will help you calculate the ROI, or the Return on Investment. This calculation is frequently performed in order to help determine whether a particular investment is worthwhile.

 

 

Investment Calculators: How to Figure out the Return on Interest

 

 

Using an investment calculator to figure out the Return on Interest of an investment is the first step to seeing whether an investment is worth having. If you do not have an investment calculator on hand, you just perform a simple calculation to determine your returns. 

 

 

The more complicated the proposal, the more difficult it may be to calculate the Return on Investment accurately without the use of any investment calculators. If you are dealing with a small or moderately sized investment, it may be okay to do the calculations yourself. However, if the investment proposal is larger, you should seek the assistance of a financial analyst or an accounting expert. They will be more thorough in providing calculations about your investments in comparison to an investment calculator.

 

 

If you want to calculate the Returns on Investments on a proposal without an investment calculator, add up the total value of the investment's benefits and subtract this value from the costs. In many cases, you will also need to take into account for any time required for the investment to pay for itself fully. Depending on the type of investment, it may take more or less time for this. A payback of up to three years is a usually considered a worthwhile investment. 

 

 

In order to calculate the Return on Investment (with or without an investment calculator), you will need two main pieces of information.

 

 

• The net profit or the revenue from the investment

 

 

• The investment or the cost of the investment

 

 

You should also decide on what period you are measuring the Return on Investment for. If you are looking to figure out the Return on Investment for the last month or the last year, both the revenue and the cost should reflect that. 

 

 

The equation for measuring the Return on Investment is the following:

 

 

[ (Revenue from Investment-Cost of the Investment) / (Cost of Investment)] x 100 = Return (%)

 

 

As you can see by the equation, the return on investment is usually given as a percentage. 

 

 

When you are using this equation, you have to consider all the costs of the investment. In order to avoid forgetting about the hidden costs, you should ask yourself these questions about any potential investments:

 

 

• How much are the upfront initial costs involved with this investment?

 

 

• Are there any taxes or potential fees associated with this investment?

 

 

• Are there any maintenance costs or fees for this investment?

 

 

• Will there be any research costs to properly evaluate this investment?

 

 

• How much time will this investment require?

 

 

• If it is for a business, how many people are needed, what will the labor rates be and for how many hours, will there be consulting fees or and training fees, and will there be extra costs for supplies, hardware, software, etc.

 

 

You should also think about what returns you will expect to gain from this investment and in what time period. 

 

 

Investment Calculators: Example on Determining the Return on Interest

 

 

If you are unsure on how to use the equation to calculate the Return on Interest without an investment calculator, here is an example to make it easier. Again, you will be using this equation:

 

 

[ (Revenue from Investment – Cost of Investment) / Cost of Investment] x 100 = Return on Interest (%)

 

 

If you have an investment that during a one year period cost you $4500, and you have measured your total revenue to be $8000 during that year, you can plug in the values to get the following:

 

 

[ ($8000 – $4500) / $4500 ] x 100 = Return on Interest (%)

 

 

The first step is to subtract the revenue from the cost (which is the calculation in the parenthesis. Doing this will give you the following:

 

 

[ ($3500) / $4500 ] x 100 = Return on Interest (%)

 

 

The next step is divide the value in the parenthesis by the cost of the investment. This becomes:

 

 

.7778 x 100 = Return on Interest (%) 

 

 

The last step is to multiple the decimal number by 100 to convert it into a percentage:

 

 

.7778 x 100 = 77.78% = Return on Interest (%) 

 

 

Investment Calculators: Calculating the Payback Period of an Investment

 

 

Some investment calculators will also provide an option to determine the payback period. This payback period is the period of time it takes for a return on your investment to be equal to or "repay" the original sum of the initial investment. You can calculate the payback period with an investment calculator or by doing the calculations yourself to determine just how long it will take an investment to pay for itself.

 

 

In order to calculate the payback period without the use of an investment calculator, you can use the following equation (note that the variables are in respect to a period of time):

 

 

Costs of Investment / Benefits of Investment = Payback Period

 

 

The benefits of in this equation are not the same as the return. Benefits are just your net returns, or your total returns subtracted from your costs.

 

 

Returns – Costs = Benefits

 

 

In more advance calculations, you will also want to look at certain other factors when determining the benefits:

 

 

• How much have you reduced costs with these benefits

 

 

• Has productivity increased

 

 

• Have you improved the process of investing

 

 

• Have you reduced waste

 

 

As mentioned before, you will want to ensure that your investment has an adequate return over a period of time. An investment should be able repay the original investment in at most three years.

 

 

Investment Calculators: Example on Calculating the Payback Period of an Investment

 

 

It is very easy to calculate the payback period of an investment without using an investment. To do you, you just need to know the cost and the benefits of the investment, which you should know already if you have calculated the Return of Investment. Using the same values as in the example of calculating the Return of Investments, assume that the cost is $4500 each year and the return is $8000. The first step is to determine the benefits by subtracting the returns from the cost. Doing this gives you the following value:

 

 

Returns – Costs = Benefits

 

 

$8000 – $4500 = $3500

 

 

 When you plug these values into the payback period equation, you get the following

 

 

Costs of Investment / Benefits of Investment = Payback Period

 

 

$4500 / $3500 = Payback Period 

 

 

When you divide the cost of investment by its return, you get the following.

 

 

$4500 / $3500 = Payback Period = 1.286 per year

 

 

Note that this payback period that you have calculated without an investment calculator is in years because the investment cost and the return values are both for a year. This means that in a little more than one and a quarter years, the investment will pay itself off. You can also choose to write this payoff period in months rather than years by multiplying the value by 12. Doing so gives you the following:

 

 

1.286 years  x (12 months/year) = 15.432 months

 

 

This means that your investment will have a payback period of about 15 and half months.

 

 

Investment Calculators: Other Ways to Measure Investments

 

 

If you want to go a little more in depth in measuring your investments, you can try using the simple Dietz method, which is a way to approximate your investment portfolio performance in a time period where cash flows in and out. You can calculate the rate of return of an investment portfolio without needing any investment calculators. The equation is the following:

 

 

R = (M2 – M1 – C)/[M1 + (C/2)]

 

 

R is the rate of return of the investment portfolio.

 

 

M1 is the initial value of the investment portfolio.

 

 

M2 is the final value of the investment portfolio.

 

 

C is the total external cash flow of the investment portfolio

 

 

Additionally, you can use the modified Dietz method, which is also used to determine an approximate value of performance of your investment portfolios but looking at your cash flow when it is money-weighted. You can calculate your investment portfolio with the modified Dietz method without the use of an investment calculator as well. The equation for the calculation is the following:

 

 

R = Gain / Average Capital

 

 

Gain = EMV – BMV – CF

 

 

Average Capital = BMV + ∑Wi x CFi

 

 

R is the rate of return of the investment portfolio.

 

 

EMV is the ending market value.

 

 

BMV is the beginning market value.

 

 

CF is your net cash flow for a period of time (note that any contributions are positive and withdrawals are negative).

 

 

Wi is the weight, or the proportion of the total days left in the period after cash flow occurs. It can be measured with this equation: Wi = (CD – Di)/CD, where CD is the total number of calendars where the return is being calculated, and Di is the day where the cash flow happens.

 

 

A Perkins loan is a lower interest, needs based loan for college education offered by the federal government.  There are a number of reasons why the Perkins loan is an attractive option for financing a college education, not the least of which is deferred payment until after graduation, a low and fixed interest rate and eligibility for federal loan cancellation and consolidation.

The Perkins loan has a fixed interest rate of 5% and has a repayment grace period of nine months after graduation or falling below half-time student status.  In the meanwhile, interest does not accrue on the loan until the loan begins to be repaid by the borrower.  The current limits for undergraduate students are $5,500 per year, up to $27,500 maximum.  Graduate students may borrow up to $8,000 per year, up to a limit of $60,000 that includes undergraduate Perkins loans.  The limitations and amounts are subject to the actual needs of the student and other aid received by the student.  You will need to repay this loan within 10 years, depending on the amount owed.  

This loan is disbursed through the student’s school.  The school receives a certain amount of funds for Perkins loans through the US Department of Education.  The fund is then replenished through payments made by others that have Perkins loans in addition to occasional payments by the federal government for loan cancellations.  The school determines how the loans are disbursed, screens students for eligibility and will reflect the loans when billing the student or pay the student via check.  

You must be able to demonstrate financial need as Perkins loans are limited and will only be given to those students that qualify.  You may need to consider other loan arrangements if you do not qualify for this needs-based loan.  To be considered for eligibility on a Perkins loan, one must submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as early as possible.  As Perkins loans are limited, there is no guarantee that those that are eligible will receive a loan as these funds are limited.  You should check with your school’s financial aid office to determine if your school is one of the 1,700 institutions that received federal Perkins loan funding.  You will need to sign a promissory note ensuring that you will repay the loan according to the terms of the agreement.

The Perkins loan interest rate is comparatively lower than the interest rates for other student loans.  Student loans have generally high interest rates due the money being borrowed in a short period of time for a specific purpose, when compared to a long term home or auto loan.  Interest does not accrue on the student loan with the student is still in school and many other loans would contain this provision, putting pressure on the student to graduate quickly and being repayment.  

You will not be able to discharge any student loan, especially those made by private lenders, but you may deferred payments on a Perkins loan if you demonstrate sufficient hardship.

As Perkins loans are disbursed by schools, you should contact your school immediately to request a deferral.  Failure to make payments on the loan will result in penalties.

The federal government will forgive some student loan debt under certain conditions.  Those with a Perkins loan that teach full time in low income schools, teach subjects that there are a shortage of teachers (mathematics, science, foreign languages, or bilingual education) or volunteer for the Peace Corps may have their loans cancelled by the following schedule:

• 15 percent canceled per year for the first and second years of service,

• 20 percent canceled for the third and fourth years, and

• 30 percent canceled for the fifth year.

Up to 100% of the Perkins loan, including interest can be cancelled through this program.

You may, but be aware that you will lose the previously state cancellation benefits if you choose loan consolidation.

Consolidation is not necessarily beneficial unless the student has other subsidized loans with higher interest rates.  Federal Student Loan Consolidation takes the weighted average of the loan rates and then extends the term, based on the preference of the debtor.  This term can be anywhere from 10 – 30 years.  The average rates are rounded up to the nearest 1/8 of a percentage and capped at 8.25%.

This grants the student financial flexibility in repayment, even if the amount repaid will be higher due to the longer term.  In many cases though, the lower interest rate ends up saving the student money.  

There are a number of pitfalls in federal student loan consolidation, such as picking a 30 year repayment, which will cost the student dearly in interest payments.  Additionally, the fixed interest rate at 8.25% is much higher than the Perkins loan 5%, so consolidation should only occur if the student also has Stafford, PLUS or other loans that need repayment.

Education loans are considered “good debt” as it represents an investment into ones earning potential.  The student’s credit score will not be impacted as long as this debt is repaid by the terms agreed upon with the school.

All federal subsidized loans lack an early repayment penalty, allowing the student to repay extra on the principal with every payment to reduce the amount of interest that will be accrued on the principal.  If you can afford early repayment, it is in your best interest to do so.

Equity Market is a financial term that refers to any open trading market of stocks, bonds, derivatives, or any other number of financial investment instruments.  An equity market is more commonly referred to as a “stock market”.  Various equity markets operate throughout the world and have become a key process of modern business ownership.  A stock is a small ownership stake in a company.  

Globally, the value of all stocks and derivatives is currently estimated at over $800 Trillion.  The largest stock market in the world is the New York Stock Exchange.  The following are just some of the world’s stock exchanges:

1. The Toronto Stock Exchange (Canada).

2. The Amsterdam Stock Exchange.

3. The London Stock Exchange (Britain).

4. The Tokyo Stock Exchange (Japan).

5. The Hong Kong Stock Exchange (People’s Republic of China).

On each stock market, stocks are listed and traded on a daily basis.  Individual people, investment companies, or other corporations can freely exchange stocks, usually at the prevailing price at the time of sale.  Other forms of trading can also occur, including short selling, margin buying, or any number of methods of buying, selling, and trading stocks.  

In order to invest in a stock market, you must be registered with the exchanged or employ a broker to trade on your behalf.  

1. Traditionally, brokers have been brick and mortar institutions that required their clients to physically contact a broker to place orders on the stock market.  

2. New technology has lead to the proliferation of online brokerage accounts, which allow clients to access their accounts anywhere in the world and seek trades at any time from their computer.  

Physical exchanges, such as the New York Stock Exchange, exists in a centralized location and requires floor brokers to enter orders and work with other brokers in order to establish trades for their clients.  Now, virtual stock exchanges are possible, such as the NASDAQ, where all trades occur over a connected computer network.  This still requires that brokers trade the stocks, however they no longer are in a centralized location.  

In order to get listed in an equity market, a business must “ go public”.  Going public refers to the selling of stock in the company to the general public, which raises money for the company while diluting ownership to numerous stockholders.  In order to get listed, a company must do the following:

1. First, the company must conduct a process of “due diligence”, in which all aspects of the company are investigated to determine an accurate value.

2. Once a value is assigned, a specific number of shares are sold through an “Initial Public Offering”, in which the stocks are sold at an initial price.

3. Once the IPO is initiated, the company goes public on an opening date, in which its stock value will go up and down according to the daily trading value.