I want to buy a couple shares of stock & get the certificate?

Question

What's it called to buy a couple shares of stock & cheapest way to get the certificate? I looked at www.oneshare.com and

http://www.singleshare.com/ but both have a $39 transfer fee-- how do i get the certificate w/out this fee (what is that fee anyways??)

THANKSSSS!!!!!

Answer 1

If you are buying these stocks as a gift for someone, then I could see reason to do this.

If you are doing this for yourself, it is not a good idea.

The costs of  "ordering out" the certificates can be expensive. If it cost your $39 in fees to buy a $39 stock, basically the stock has to double in price before you break even. There is no way to get around a fee, just shop around for lower fees.

When I was at a top Wall Street firm we did not charge a fee to order out certificates. This may have changed now, I don't know. However, to have an account with a top firm you need top dollars too.

Best to hold stocks in "street name" - at the brokerage or bank where purchased.

Even if the bank or broker goes under, the stocks are SIPC protected. The only way to lose is if the stock company goes BK.

Answer 2

Its called buying stock, that's all.

in order to get the certs you are going to have to pay, no way around that unless you have a sweet tongue.

The costs are not frivolous either.  The brokerage has to contact the transfer agents, have shares transferred on books, get certs printed appropriately blah blah blah.  There is alot of work to do this, and that is where the fee's come from.