the fool

laffer

are they a reliable company for share dealing etc?

I noted this on their website.

The Motley Fool Share Dealing Service only offers a nominee account. This means that we hold stock for you electronically in our nominee’s name and are therefore able to deal with any settlement, corporate actions and dividends on your behalf, preventing any delays. If you have any share certificates you can deposit them in your account ready for when you want to trade. Please see the 'Transferring Investments' section for more details.

Is this a standard thing?

JoeCrystal

Sadly, yes. :mad: If you deal through online brokers, you are not legal owner of these shares, the broker own them but you get all the benefits from it as already mentioned.

chookie1

Joys of dematerialised trading. On the bright side you don't have to post bits of paper around any more.

Don't forget to ask them if they'll be paying you the income they get from lending your shares out...... :-)

taxdodger

Then when thing are bad the company can sell you shares and buy them back at half the price pocketing the difference and handing you back your worthless share certificte.