A stockbroker is a person whose job is helping others buy and sell pieces of companies called stocks. When you own stock in a company like Apple or Disney, you own a tiny slice of that business. But you can't just walk into a stock market and start trading: you may need a licensed stockbroker to make those trades for you.

Think of a stockbroker as a guide who knows the rules and pathways of the financial markets. If your aunt wants to buy shares of a toy company, she calls her stockbroker, who then executes the purchase on her behalf. The stockbroker earns money by charging fees or commissions for this service.

Stockbrokers need to understand how markets work, which companies are doing well, and what their clients hope to achieve with their money. Some stockbrokers give advice about which stocks to buy or sell, while others simply carry out the trades their clients request. The job requires a special license that proves the person understands financial laws and regulations.

Before the internet, stockbrokers worked on busy trading floors, shouting orders and making frantic phone calls. Today, much of the work happens on computers, and many people can even buy stocks themselves through apps. Still, plenty of individuals and businesses rely on experienced stockbrokers to help them make smart decisions about investing their money.