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Date: Sat, 22 Apr 2006 15:44:22 -0500
From: "Bucky" 
Newsgroups: misc.invest.financial-plan
Subject: Re: Newbie to stock market-have questions
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wprien@yahoo.com wrote:
> After owning some shares in mutual funds for a while, I am considering
> buying individual shares of some publicly traded companies. I just
> wanted to know how exactly I go about this?

Open a brokerage account. One popular broker that people seem to have a
good experience with is Scottrade, each transaction is only $7. Other
discount brokers charge up to $15, which is still very cheap.

> But for now, is there a way to buy stocks directly from a company? So
> that I would hold the stock certificates?

You don't want to do that. I think the companies fees would be higher
than a discount brokerage. They'll probably charge to send you the
stock certificates. And then you have to worry about keeping track of
them. Just open an online brokerage account, it's nearly effortless.