How do you sell a stock? (Non-hypothetical from someone who knows NOTHING)

Factual Questions
1

Hey
So, I really know NOTHING about the world of stocks and such. At this moment, I’m not particularly interested in delving into that whole world. Maybe someday, but not today.

When my sibs and I were kids, and aunt who wanted us to learn about the stock market gave us each one share of Disney stock.

The lesson soon fizzled out after the initial gift, to this day I’m nearly completely ignorant.

Somehow, I now have 3 shares.
Once a year, I get a check from Disney and a Form 1099-DIV.
Check just came: $1.05 :cool:

[ul]
[li]I really never ever think about the fact that I have this stock.[/li][li]I’m not going to add to it and I don’t have any stock in anything else.[/li][li]I’m super broke right now.[/li][li]So broke, in fact, that any income even just in double digits will make a difference.[/li][/ul]
What should I do with my three shares of Disney?
Is it a hassle to step into that neighborhood of the world of finance when you’re only dealing with such small potatoes as three little shares of something?

How would I go about selling it in the easiest way possible?

In the quickest way possible?

Would the quickest way be ill-advised in that I’d be giving up too much of a cut in exchange for quickness?

The Form 1099-DIV is the only documentation that I have that links me to this stock.

I think it’s possible that my mother, across the country, might have some other documentation (stock certificate? that’s an actual physical thing or just a concept?). But as far as what I have personally, within my reach at the moment, I have no documentation other than the Form 1099-DIV (and the check for $1.05 :cool: )

Thanks!

2

The quickest and easiest way would be to find a stockbroker to sell it for you. For a sale that small, however, expect to pay a relatively high fee. Stocks are traded in lots of 100 on the exchanges, so the broker will have to find 97 other shares to sell before he can make the sale.

To gain access to the stock, contact Disney shareholder services. They can tell you how much you own and how to get a certificate. They also should be able to help you in other ways.

3

That’s the first thing to find out is where the share certificates are.

If you get the certificates in hand, call Disney Shareholder Services at 818-553-7200. They should be able to buy the shares from you for a small commission. With only 3 shares, you’ll net about $70 or so given the current price of the stock. Going direct to Disney will be the cheapest way to accomplish the sale.

If the shares are held by a brokerage, call the brokerage. They will likely accommodate your request for a reasonable commission just to get the shares off the books.

Edit: Do as RealityChuck suggests and just call Disney right away. They may be holding the shares already and you can get it taken care of right away. If they don’t have them, you’ll have to track them down.