The Tips

The stock market is the backbone of the country’s financial market. Pension accounts, 401(k) accounts, individual retirement accounts—depend on having successful investments in the stock market. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD) govern the protection of the stock market. We trust them to protect our investments from fraud, scams, and illegal acts, and punish those who do wrong and oversee the orderly marketplace.But what happens when those who are there to protect look the other way and take bribes?The brokerage firm of Jones & Wood Securities, with headquarters in Florida, has just hired Johnathan Nelson. He is a stockbroker working with clients and helping them make successful investments. Johnathan’s trainer is one of the most successful brokers in the firm, and the tips he gives his clients are always right.How can a broker always be right?But corruption is eventually brought to his attention. A man only known as the informant claims to know of corruption in the SEC and NASD agencies, that police the brokerage firms for illegal acts. The stock tips are not successful because of brilliant brokers but the result of a crooked firm.What is the source of these successful tips? Information comes from the heads of the SEC and NASD to the firm before it becomes public knowledge. This an illegal act of insider information. The firm never gets caught because of its connections to the ruling body of the stock marke...