broker
noun
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Definition of broker
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Synonyms for broker
Synonyms
buffer, conciliator, go-between, honest broker, interceder, intercessor, intermediary, intermediate, interposer, mediator, middleman, peacemaker
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Examples of broker in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
According to his congressional website, the former real-estate broker is the owner of Billy Long Auctions in Springfield. — Emily Stewart, Vox, "Alt-right protester interrupts Dorsey hearing. Auctioneer-turned-congressman drones her out.," 5 Sep. 2018 The seller, or the real estate broker, should explain to the neighbor that his attitude is self-defeating. — New York Times, "How to Stop That Unruly Neighbor From Ruining Your Sale," 30 June 2018 Now that Shaquille O’Neal’s Orlando area home has been on the market for a few days, the broker in charge of selling the home gave the Sentinel’s business staff insight about where interested buyers are coming from. — Paul Brinkmann, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Shaquille O'Neal mansion gets interest from Miami, Massachusetts, China, agent says," 24 May 2018 The focus of this SEC initiative is brokers who sell mutual funds with 12b-1 fees. — Stewart Welch, AL.com, "Is Your Stock Broker in Trouble with the Law?," 3 May 2018 So most of Shore's direct clients are mortgage brokers. — Detroit Free Press, "United Shore mortgage moves into new, amenity-filled Pontiac HQ," 23 June 2018 OCF Realty, founded by developer Ori Feibush, will be the broker for the homes. — Caitlin Mccabe, Philly.com, "NYC developer planning $2 million townhomes on South Broad and Fitzwater Streets," 22 June 2018 Schultz said HSI Properties is not a broker, but has real estate services to market the property for it. — Karen Pilarski, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Rice n Roll Bistro eyes new location in Wauwatosa's State Street Station as developer searches for more retail tenants," 13 June 2018 The groom’s mother is a real estate broker for Coldwell Banker in Danbury and, until 2014, was the editorial director and managing editor of Globe Pequot Press. — New York Times, "Julia Reiser, Connor Policastro," 10 June 2018These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'broker.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for broker
broker
nounFinancial Definition of broker
What It Is
A broker is a person or a company that acts as an intermediary between buyers and sellers. Brokers exist not just in the financial markets, but in the real estate market, the commodities market, the art market -- even the boat market.
How It Works
Brokers are often paid a commission, which is a percentage of the customer's purchase or sale price, though some receive a flat fee per transaction or a mix of the two.
There are many types of brokers in the financial world. For example, a commodities broker specializes in trading commodities, a floor broker handles orders on the floor of a stock or commodities exchange and a full-service broker offers brokerage services and sells other financial products such as insurance, tax planning or research conducted by other members of the brokerage firm. A discount broker essentially executes trades on behalf of customers and does little else. Brokers are not the same as research analysts, who analyze and make recommendations about certain stocks.
In the financial world, brokers must have Series 7 and Series 63 licenses; other licenses are often required for specific types of brokers. For example, some brokers must also obtain a Series 3 license if they want to trade certain financial products such as futures and commodities. To obtain a Series 7 license, the applicant must pass the Series 7 exam (also called the Qualification Examination for General Securities Representative), which primarily covers the seven critical functions performed by registered representatives: seek business for the broker/dealer, evaluate customer needs and objectives, advise clients, manage customer accounts and account records, explain the securities markets and the factors that affect them, execute orders for clients and monitor client portfolios. The National Association of Securities Dealers administers the test.
Why It Matters
Brokers are some of the most important people in any market because they bring buyers and sellers together and thus create liquidity and efficiency in the market.
However, investors should remember that broker commissions eat into returns, so investors should shop for a broker that provides an appropriate level of service. For instance, the extra cost of a full-service broker may be worth it for people who don't have the knowledge or inclination to stay on top of complicated investing or financial planning. Likewise, new investors or those with complex portfolios might find more comfort in full-service brokers. Investors who hold their investments for a long time are usually less bothered by higher trading commissions because they don't trade that often.
Source: Investing Answers
broker
noun
English Language Learners Definition of broker
See the full definition for broker in the English Language Learners Dictionary
broker
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Kids Definition of broker
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broker
noun
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Legal Definition of broker
Note: An insurance broker differs from an insurance agent in that a broker is usually considered an agent of the insured, even though he or she may receive a commission from an insurance company. A broker may sell the products of a number of insurers, and an insurer has no liability for a broker's wrongful actions. A securities broker often acts also as a dealer and so is often referred to as a broker-dealer.
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