An asset is a resource with economic value that an individual or corporation owns

Bonds represent the debts of issuers, such as companies or governments. These debts are sliced up and sold to investors in smaller units.

The bond markets are very liquid and active, but can take second seat compared to stocks for some investors. The bond markets are often reserved for professional investors, pension and hedge funds, and financial advisors, but that doesn't mean that investors should steer clear of bonds. In fact, bonds can play an important part in a portfolio as you age. In fact, having a diversified portfolio of stocks and bonds is advisable for investors of all ages and risk tolerance.

The bond market is often referred to as the debt market, fixed-income market, or credit market. It is the collective name given to all trades and issues of debt securities.

A brokerage firm or brokerage company is a financial institution who connects buyers and sellers to complete a transaction for stock bonds.

Full-service brokerages offer additional services, including advice and research on a wide range of financial products.

A Custodian is a Financial Institution usually a Bank or a Broker Dealer that holds customers' securities. The custodian may hold stocks, bonds, or other assets in electronic or physical form on behalf of its customers.

Equity, typically referred to as shareholders' equity (or owners' equity for privately held companies), represents the amount of money that would be returned to the company's shareholders if all of the assets were liquidated and all of the company's debt was paid off in the case of liquidation.

A Financial Institution is a company engaged in the business of dealing with financial and monetary assets and transactions such as deposits, loans, investments, and currency exchange.

A financial product distributor, also known as a financial intermediary or distributor, is an entity or individual that acts as an intermediary between financial product providers (such as banks, insurance companies, asset management firms, or investment companies) and consumers or investors. Their primary function is to facilitate the sale and distribution of various financial products to individuals or businesses.

A hedge fund is a limited partnership of private investors whose money is managed by professional fund managers who use a wide range of strategies, including leveraging or trading of non-traditional assets, to earn above-average investment returns.

Shares are units of ownership in a company. The terms "shares" and "stocks" are often used interchangeably, but they represent a company differently. While this may seem confusing, it is a matter of how you're talking about a company and how much ownership you have in it.