res-investor

Seems you've had a bad experience. I can't help you but I can tell you the rules & how all efficient brokerages are run. Paid up securities in a cash a/c can't be loaned out but must be held by the broker in segregation. Securities held in a margin a/c can be loaned out. The broker receives cash in return & can pay down other loans. Well run brokerages should lend out as many securities as possible to be efficient. It is unlikely a major broker would break the rules unless they were about to blow up. The owner of a security must have annual reports & the like passed along to him unless he requests otherwise.

Most CDN. securities do not have certificates but are kept track of by computer book entry. Much more efficient method. Institutions have an advantage when there are secondary offerings because they get a chance to sell in the mkt. & replace cheaper on the secondary.

Regards

Joltin