When I was younger someone bought me stock, I want to know how to retrieve it.?

Question

Is there a way to somehow track it down? No I don't know what company it was, I was like 5, but I have vivid memories of someone telling me that someone bought me stock. I had no idea what it meant until high school, and if this stock did well I could potentially be a millionaire. So is there a way to do this? I have seen credit reports and they seem to have every single bit of financial debt you have ever had or been in. How do I somehow dig up this lost relic?

Answer 1

A possible place to start your search would be unclaimed property with your state.

Here's a website that you can start with (a consolidated database of lots of states):

http://www.missingmoney.com

But try to find an actual State Gov't website...it will be more accurate.  Try the state you were born in...or where you lived when you were 5.

A lot of states have this info available to search online, other's don't, but they have contact info.

It's the only place I can think of to start...

Good luck!

Answer 2

A Guide for Stock Certificate Sleuths !!!

If you find a stock certificate for an unfamiliar company, you need to do some detective work to determine if it's worth anything. Some places to look:

I. The transfer agent listed on the front of the certificate - If the transfer agent is still in business, it may be able to tell you whether the certificate still has value.

II. The Securities and Exchange Commission - Most publicly traded companies must file regularly with the SEC. The documents are available electronically through the SEC's Edgar database at www.sec.gov. You also can search www.freeedgar.com or www.edgar-online.com.

III. States - The stock certificate should list the state in which the company is -- or was -- incorporated. Contact the Secretary of State's office and ask for the business corporations section. You can find a listing of secretaries of state at: www.scripophily.com.

IV. The public library - Reference guides with useful information about actively traded and inactive companies: Financial Stock Guide Service; Robert D. Fisher Manual of Valuable & Worthless Securities; Moody's Industrial Manual; and National Stock Summary.

V. Several companies will research old stock certificates for a fee -  Stock Search International (800-537-4523, www.stocksearchintl.com), charges $85 per company. If the certificate has value, SSI will try to recover the money; that fee is 30% of the amount recovered. R.M. Smythe (800-622-1880, www.rm-smythe.com) will research stock certificates for $75 per company. Smythe doesn't recover money but will tell you who to contact if the certificate is valuable.

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