IB tells them you do but shares still held in street name. You can ask IB to transfer your shares to transfer agent, if you are nervous. They no longer issue paper certificates, regretfully.I thought the same, why would I get invited for shareholders' meeting and stuff frequently, if I don't own the shares.
Stocks held with IB or other discount brokers like Saxo are held "street name", on record belonging to IB or Saxo respectively. They have a pledge towards customers. This means that you can't just migrate to another platform when they go bust, you have to endure the liquidation case. With more elegant brokers like DBS Singapore, you actually own the stock as it's registered in your name in SGX. DBS going under won't affect your SGX stocks and you could just continue trading and profiting via UOB or OCBC the very next day.
Eventually, you'll get your stocks from IB, after liquidators have harvested their share of everyone's portfolio (up to 5%) in legal fees. Considering the size and complexity of IB, it's going to be a several-year case billed hourly by several top law firms.
Odds are the state won't let IB go under. A bail-out is not out of play, unless of course someone like Bernie occupies the WH.
I thought if you have a bank account and own bonds\stocks etc your equities are NOT a part of the bank balance sheet and are yours even if the bank implodes.
I see ... what about SwissQuote \ Saxobank \ Dukascopy? They should be a bank as hey do have banking license.
With more elegant brokers like DBS Singapore, you actually own the stock as it's registered in your name in SGX. DBS going under won't affect your SGX stocks and you could just continue trading and profiting via UOB or OCBC the very next day.
Broker has to segregate client funds
If you disallow margin lending of your cash or stocks its a federal felony to tap into your funds
IF there is a choice (big if), would it make a difference and would certain jurisdictions be preferable?
Sir, only futures accounts at MF Global were affected