History :

The history of stock brokers can be traced back to the origins of the first stock exchange in 1602 at Amsterdam. Even before that brokers are said to have existed in France dealing with government securities. The Amsterdam Stock Exchange was involved in buying and selling of shares for the Dutch East India Company.

However, the first real stock exchange came up in Philadelphia in the United States during the late 18 th century. Later it was the New York stock exchange which saw a rise in its popularity. Wall Street, as it was called, became the hub of brokerage activities. Earlier stock brokers were largely unorganized, but later most of them joined hands to form institutes and organizations.

Till the 1980's stock broking services were used only by the wealthy class who could afford them. Later with the advent of the Internet, stock broking became very easy. Thus, the price tag on stock brokers lowered considerably and their services became available even to the common man.

The stock broking duties are now mostly taken up by major organizations with the smaller companies being absorbed by them. In India, too with increasing globalization the major corporations are penetrating deeper into the society.

 Types :

There isn't really a division in the types of stock brokers. One can only differentiate between solo brokers and corporations. The solo brokers are normally more helpful in the advice department and give you the personal touch that many major corporations lack. Apart from this there is hardly any other difference; one can only enlist the services they provide:

• Stock trading
• Mutual funds
• Debentures
• Equity shares