When you buy a share of stock, there’s more happening behind the scenes than you might think. Enter the transfer agent—a key player in making stock ownership official.
What Does a Transfer Agent Do?
A transfer agent is a company that maintains a corporation’s shareholder records. They:
- Track who owns what shares
- Issue and cancel stock certificates
- Manage dividend payments
- Handle name or address changes
- Replace lost certificates
They’re essentially the company’s shareholder registrar, and without them, the stock market wouldn’t function.
Why It Matters for Shareholders
When you buy a share through GiveAshare.com, we work directly with the company’s transfer agent to register the stock in your name (or the name of your gift recipient). That’s what makes our stock gifts real and personal—your giftee becomes a direct registered shareholder.
You’ll Actually See Your Name
Once registered, the shareholder receives a Direct Registration Statement (DRS) from the transfer agent. This proves official ownership and gives access to shareholder perks (if the company offers them). Their name is on the company’s shareholder list—not just behind a brokerage wall.
Buying from a Broker vs. GiveAshare
| Feature | GiveAshare | Broker (e.g., Fidelity, Robinhood) |
|---|---|---|
| Shareholder Name Listed? | ✅ Yes – at the transfer agent | ❌ No – shares held in “street name” |
| Personalized Certificate? | ✅ Yes – framed and gift-ready | ❌ No certificate offered |
| Great for Gifting? | ✅ Yes | ❌ Not designed for gifting |
| Direct Ownership? | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
Buying from a broker means your shares are technically held by the brokerage—not in your name. You might own the shares, but you won’t be listed on the company’s records.
Real vs. Replica Certificates
We offer two types of display-worthy stock gifts:
Real Stock Certificates – Ordered at GiveAshare.com and sent by the company's transfer agent with the share officially registered. Cannot get authentic stock certificates at a broker.
Replica Certificates – Custom-designed by us for people who already own shares in a brokerage account. These are purely for display but look amazing on the wall.
Tags:transfer agentstock ownershipDRSstock certificatereplica stockreal shareholderbrokeragegift of stockstock giftingfinancial literacyinvesting basicsshareholder perksstock registryframed stock certificate
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