So after 2+ years of doing DD and contributing to others' DD, I've learned a few things. The three that are the most staggering are

1. You don't own your shares - everything in your brokers account is an IOU.

2. Your buying pressure is likely being suppressed due to dark pools

3. Hedge funds can and will short stocks down with their total capital to take money from retail investors and companies that are viable and can do good if left alone.

I had dinner with an old business prof a little while back. Now, you have to understand this person has always been a trusted source for business and finance information. Our conversation led us down a market structure conversation, and the 3 points above about blew his top as he doesn't short or play options anymore.

His response was this, "Do you know what would happen to the markets if every retail investor knew this?" To which i replied Yes.... it would be a fucking nightmare for the markets, people would look elsewhere to fund their retirement. He said they would stop investing in the markets, invest everything in real estate/land and that would be that.

Leaving a potential finance industry and banks in the lurch, this would also remove the ability for central banks to draw on your registered funds, removing spendable money from the treasuries.

Well damn that would be bad.

This prof also asked very clearly as anyone who has critical thinking skills would do... "How do i get my real shares like when i had my old certificates sent to me?"

I laughed and said, "Find the transfer agent, tell your broker you want your shares to be directly registered with the transfer agent. I also confirmed it must be in BOOK.

He's going to follow the bread crumbs and confirm for himself. "If this happens to be the case, he will begin adding this into curriculum".

Now, wouldn't that be a way to spread knowledge. He also asked that I come and speak to his classes.

Edit1 - small grammatical errors. Edit2 - Prof. is personal finance