Confirm what a stock product actually is
The word 'stocks' can mean different things at different brokers. Some venues offer ownership of shares, while others offer derivatives that track a share price. These carry very different rights, costs and risk profiles, so identify exactly which product you are being offered before opening a position.
- Check whether the product is direct share ownership or a derivative that references a share price.
- Confirm which exchanges or markets are covered and whether coverage differs by account tier.
- Verify whether corporate actions such as dividends or splits are handled, and how.

