When retail investors discover TiiCKER, some have questions about how stock perks work. So the editorial team thought it would be worthwhile to dig into our mailbag and answer some common questions about TiiCKER. Periodically, we will answer these questions and give individual investors a few tips and tricks so they can get the most out of the platform that rewards shareholders for simply owning stock in their favorite companies.

Question: “I really enjoy the TiiCKER platform, so much so that I’ve purchased stock that I’ve discovered while browsing the site, some so I am eligible for the perks, and all because I think the companies are good investments. I like the Insights section, but I’ve noticed that unlike some other financial websites’ news sections, TiiCKER does not provide investment advice in these articles, which I find helpful. You know, the more information you have as investor, the better. So what gives? Why can’t I use TiiCKER to manage my portfolio and find investment advice?” – Liam K., Greensboro, N.C.

Answer: Liam, all of us are thrilled you enjoy TiiCKER and that you are redeeming perks for owning your favorite stocks. As an individual investor, we firmly believe you should be rewarded for stock ownership. Companies are taking notice and beginning to understand the importance of connecting with retail investors like yourself (and rewarding them for their loyalty with some amazing perks).

We are also happy you are enjoying our Insights. Benjamin Franklin said: “An investment in knowledge pays the best interest” and we couldn’t agree more. That’s what you will find in the Insights section of TiiCKER – lots of information, not only about stocks that offer perks, but a wide range of investment issues, Q&As with cutting-edge CEOs, timely analysis of news that could affect the investment community and how-to information about investing. But we don’t give advice or operate as a brokerage.

It is important to understand that TiiCKER is not a registered brokerage firm or registered investment adviser. That’s because those that give advice about investing – money managers, investment consultants, and financial planners – are regulated in the United States as “investment advisers” under the U.S. Investment Advisers Act of 1940. The SEC at that time (in response to the stock market crash), found a significant problem in the industry was the existence, either consciously or, more likely, unconsciously, of a prejudice by advisers in favor of their own financial interests. The Advisors Act defines an investment adviser as any person or firm that is paid for and in the business of providing advice to others or issuing reports or analyses regarding securities. That’s not what we do at TiiCKER.

Let’s turn back to the advice from Ben Franklin. We are happy to keep providing information and help you build knowledge about stocks and the markets that you can use to make your own personal decisions about how you would like to invest, but TiiCKER is not designed for you to manage your portfolio or provide investment advice.

Examples of registered investment advisors include firms like Edelman Financial Engines, Hightower Advisors, Creative Planning and CIBC Private Wealth, to name a few. Examples of brokerage firms include Charles Schwab, Fidelity Investments, E*TRADE, and TD Ameritrade.

TiiCKER falls into neither of these categories. Instead, it is designed to connect you with perks simply for owning the stocks you love. Along the way, we hope to provide you with a heaping helping of knowledge so you can make your own informed investment decisions. Think of TiiCKER as a valuable resource – informative and entertaining, but not designed to help you manage your portfolio or provide investment advice.

So keep coming back to TiiCKER for helpful information and to build your investing knowledge. We are constantly adding fresh content to our Insights that we hope will help you be the best retail investor that you can be. If you have ideas for stories we should cover, reach out to TiiCKER Managing Editor Rob Kirkbride at rkirkbride@tiicker.com. In the meantime, keep redeeming those perks!