You've always heard shares being talked about in the news and on the TV, but do you know what one actually is. You'd think that all investors know exactly everything about shares and what they are, but some don't! If you are considering investing in stocks, then this is a must read.

What does a share look like?

A share is literally a certificate, they look different in different countries, companies and even from different issuing points. The share certificate literally says that the holder is the owner of a certain amount of shares. They're very intricate, because much like banknotes, they can be copied by criminals. For example;

A share is part of the company, for example, if a company had 100 shares, then the owner of 1 share would officially own 1% of that company.If a company is worth £100 million, and there are 50 million shares in issue, then each share is worth £2 (usually listed as 200p in the money pages.) As the overall value of the company fluctuates so does the share price.

Why are companies nice to shareholders?

For those who are eligible to fund multiple types of retirement accounts, choice is not an issue for those who have the money to fund them all. For those who can't, choosing which to fund can be challenging. In many instances, it boils down to whether the individual prefers to take the tax breaks on the back end with Roth accounts, or on the front end with Traditional accounts. The purpose of funding the account, such as retirement versus estate planning, is also an important factor. A competent retirement planning advisor can help those facing these issues to make practical choices.