| Buying securities or currencies is somewhat like buying | | | | partners also assume responsibility for management of |
| an automobile. | | | | their company, participate in all profits accruing, and are |
| The decision to buy something is relatively easy. | | | | legally liable for all debts outstanding. |
| What, specifically, to buy is an altogether different | | | | As long as firms remain relatively small, either type of |
| problem. Before you drive your new car home, you | | | | organization is adequate. As opportunities for |
| have to choose a certain make, a certain model, | | | | expansion present themselves, however, when new |
| certain upholstery, a certain color scheme. | | | | plant and equipment are required, when greater |
| You decide between six cylinders and eight, between | | | | amounts of raw materials must be stockpiled, and |
| regular shift and automatic transmission, and say yes | | | | branch offices and distributors underwritten, and |
| or no to white walls, radio, heater, and a dozen other | | | | personnel increased, the individual and the partners are |
| optional extras. | | | | hard pressed. Their surplus generally is too small, their |
| So with securities. Although there are only two major | | | | normal lines of credit too limited to do the job. |
| categories-bonds and stocks-to select from, the | | | | Enlargement of the partnership is no answer. Outside |
| variations and refinements and optional extras are as | | | | investors willing to take on the mutual responsibilities of |
| numerous as they are confusing. | | | | partnership, or to immobilize their funds in a partnership |
| For many investors, one factor may be sufficient | | | | agreement, are hard to come by. In any event, the |
| reason to determine a choice. The man of modest | | | | range of financial needs at this stage usually is so |
| means will very likely find corporate bonds at $1,000 | | | | great that only by increasing the partnership to |
| apiece too steep and their 3 per cent interest payment | | | | ridiculous proportions could they be met. |
| too small for what he is trying to achieve. | | | | The solution? A public stock corporation. Ownership |
| A wealthier investor might be fascinated by the | | | | thereby is spread among as many hundreds or |
| potential in common stock but find that he would obtain | | | | thousands of people as are willing to buy in, their |
| a greater yield from tax-exempt municipals. All | | | | proportional part of the firm being represented by the |
| investors, however, will do well to become familiar with | | | | amount of stock or number of shares they hold. Their |
| the various kinds of securities represented in corporate | | | | reward is likewise a proportional share of their firm's |
| capital structures in order to understand their effect on | | | | profits. |
| each other and their bearing on the choice he | | | | Their control is exercised through the board of |
| eventually makes for himself. | | | | directors they elect. And because their stock is a |
| The corporation is an entity marvelously adapted to | | | | standardized, known quantity-and because there are |
| the requirements of all parties involved. It developed in | | | | stock exchanges they can readily withdraw from the |
| response to the needs of the business community for | | | | company and sell their piece of ownership to someone |
| funds over and beyond its own resources to enable it | | | | else. |
| to build, expand, and grow. | | | | The corporation, once established and in being, is an |
| The basic, one-celled form of business life is the | | | | impersonal thing of indeterminate duration. Directors |
| individual entrepreneur-the store owner who | | | | and officers may come and go, investors may buy in |
| merchandises goods, the artisan supplying services, the | | | | and sell out, but the corporation has a momentum and |
| small manufacturer-whose capital needs are met out | | | | life force which may enable it to run on indefinitely. |
| of savings or through a modest bank loan. | | | | With the Forex picking one currency against another is |
| Somewhat more complex is the partnership, the | | | | also similar, but you have the benefit of using Forex |
| pooling of the resources of several individuals to share | | | | software to help you nowadays which can sometimes |
| in a joint venture. Presumably the credit of the group is | | | | be downloaded free. |
| somewhat stronger than that of the individual. The | | | | |