A stock broker is a licensed professional that buys and sells stocks, bonds, or mutual funds for you through a brokerage account. They charge you a commission, often less than $15 per trade. They just execute trades; they are not a financial planner.

The broker and brokerage firm are the two primary relationships you will have when you begin your journey to investing, whether it's a stock broker, commodities broker, future broker, bond broker, or an all purpose brokerage firm. This broker guide for new investors explains some of the things you need to look for when selecting a brokerage firm, fees to avoid, an explanation of asset management accounts, and more

All stockbrokers are regulated professional individual, but they are usually associated with a brokerage firm or broker-dealer, who buys and sells stocks and other securities for both retail and institutional clients, through a stock exchange or over the counter, in return for a fee or commission.