The "Pink Sheets", named for the color of paper they've historically been printed on, are daily listings of price quotes for companies that trade in the Over-The-Counter market (OTC market). "Market Makers", the brokers who commit to buying and selling the securities of OTC issuers, can use the Pink Sheets to publish bid and ask prices. A company named Pink Sheets LLC, formerly known as the National Quotation Bureau, publishes the Pink Sheets in both hard copy and electronic format. Pink Sheets LLC is not registered with the SEC as stock exchange, nor does the SEC regulate its activities. With the exception of a few foreign issuers, the companies quoted in the Pink Sheets tend to be extremely small and thinly traded. Most do not meet the minimum listing requirements for trading on a national exchange, such as the New York Stock Exchange or the Nasdaq Stock Market. And many of these companies do not file reports or audited financial statements with the SEC. It can be very difficult for investors to find reliable, unbiased information about companies quoted in the Pink Sheets. For all of these reasons, companies quoted in the Pink Sheets can be among the most risky investments. That's why you should take extra care before investing in a company quoted exclusively in the Pink Sheets.

A document by which one person gives another signing authority. A power of attorney is in effect only as long as the maker is alive. We will accept a photocopy of the original Power of Attorney that is Medallion guaranteed.

Issued after common stock has been issued, preferred stockholders receive dividends prior to common stockholders. Should a company go out of business, and its assets are liquidated, preferred stockholders are entitled to distributions ahead of common stockholders.

A press release is a written or recorded communication directed at members of the news media for the purpose of announcing something claimed as having news value. Typically, they are mailed, faxed, or e-mailed to assignment editors at newspapers, magazines, radio stations, television stations, and/or television networks. Commercial press-release distribution services are also used to distribute them.

A formal written offer to sell securities that sets forth the plan for a proposed business enterprise or the facts concerning an existing one (such as a mutual fund) that an investor needs to make an informed decision.

Proxy voting is a procedure for the delegation to the issuer's attorney(s) of the securityholders' power to vote in their absence at securityholder meetings. This may be accomplished by mailed paper proxy cards, upon which securityholders mark their votes and mail back to the transfer agent, or a proxy voting service provider may host online voting, where securityholders login to a secure website and mark their votes.

A person associated with a NASD member broker/dealer who acts as an account executive for clients. As such, the registered representative gives advice on which securities to buy and sell, and he collects a percentage of the commission income he generates as compensation. "Registered" means licensed with the NASD.

Securities held on the books of a corporation in the name(s) of the shareholder(s), as opposed to Street Name or another name other than the shareholder. Direct owners receive all corporate communications directly from a company.

Shareholders whose names actually appear on the records of the corporation from which the shares are issued. See also Street Name.

While an investor's mindset is usually to buy a stock first and then sell it later, short selling actually is just the opposite; sell now and then buy it back later. The short seller borrows the shares from a securities firm with the anticipation that they will decline in value. If the investor is correct, the shares can be bought back at a lower price and the investor realizes a gain. However, if the shares are bought back at a higher price, a loss will be realized.