GiveAShare Review: Give The Gift Of Stock

GiveAShare is a website that allows you to purchase single shares of stock and gift them to family members or friends. 

It offers a complete service, which includes the stock purchase and registration, and packaging and shipping the stock certificate. 

If you're looking for a unique gift, one that promotes financial literacy and has the potential to grow in value over time, a stock certificate from GiveAShare might be the perfect idea. But how does GiveAShare work, and how much does it cost? We answer those questions and more in this full review. 

What Is GiveAShare?

GiveAShare is a small Arizona-based company that has made it easy to purchase a single share of stock as a gift to a family member or friend. You can choose from over 150 stocks of well-known, publicly-traded companies. 

The company was founded in 2002 and we've recommended them as an excellent way to gift stock for almost a decade now.

What Does It Offer?

GiveAShare allows you to purchase a single share of stock for a child or other family member or friend, without them having to open up a brokerage account. By offering this service, the company is promoting financial literacy to kids and adults alike. 

How To Buy Stock Through GiveAShare

Here's a closer look at the process of purchasing and gifting stock through GiveAShare: 

1. Choose a stock and select your options

You can choose from over 150 stocks that they currently have in stock, including companies such as Google, Amazon, Coca-Cola, John Deere, Ford, American Eagle, and Berkshire Hathaway. GiveAShare allows you to filter your search several ways, including by industry, stocks with divident reinvestment plans (DRIPs), stocks that offer real certificates, etc. 

However, they can also offer just about any NYSE or NASDAQ stock that meets certain criteria. This equates to thousands of companies, but there may be a wait before they can get the certificate in stock.

Once you've chosen your stock, you can provide the shareholder's name, and what type of frame or gift wrap you want for the certificate. 

2. Shipment of personalized display certificate 

There are two steps in GiveAShares fulfillment process. First, within two business days of placing your order, GiveAShare will ship the personalized display certificate from its facility in Arizona. Expedited shipping is available. 

3. Shipping of ownership document

The display certificate that is shipped in step two is not the official stock certificate. It's a duplicate that is framed and can be displayed by the owner of the stock (gift recipient). It can take 3-7 weeks for the stock to be legally registered. The timeframe varies depending on whether you've requested an account statement or a physical stock certificate. Regardless, once the registration process is complete, confirmation will be shipped to the shareholder address, from the Transfer Agent, e.g., Computershare.  

Collectible Stock Certificates

Collectible stock certificates have grown in popularity over the last few years due to the fact that many stockbrokers no longer issue paper shares. 

Rare stock certificates can fetch quite a premium on marketplaces like eBay and others. For example, Pixar stocks certificates with Steve Job's printed signature can sell for $500 to $700.

GiveAShare has a section devoted to collectible stock certificates.

Replica Stock Certificates

Another option is to have a personalized replica stock certificate made. Since most people own their stocks in a digital brokerage, and many stocks no longer issue paper share certificates, creating a replica certificate is a fun way to create a physical keepsake of their ownership.

A replica stock certificate can be personalized with a person's name, shares, and where the shares are held (for reference).

Gifting Stock To A Child

GiveAShare allows you to purchase stock for minor children, however, there are some guidelines you must follow. First, you have provide GiveAShare with the name of the custodian, whose name will also appear on the registered stock. The custodian can be any responsible adult, such as the child's parent or guardian. 

If you wish to purchase a share of stock for a child who hasn't been born yet, you can. However, GiveAShare cannot fully register the stock until the baby has been born and has been given a name. In the meantime, GiveAShare can fulfill the first part of the order using a placeholder name. 

Are There Any Fees? 

In addition to the price of the stock, you will pay fees to GiveAShare for legally registering the stock, the stock certificate, framing and other packaging options. 

• GiveAShare Fee: $39 USD (higher-priced stocks may require a higher fee)
• Personalized Stock Certificate: $5 
• Paper Holder Frame: $3 

Additional fees apply if you choose premium packaging options. For example, gift wrap is an additional $5, and a premium frame can cost up to $46 more. 

Because company stocks are constantly fluctuating in value, GiveAShare updates its pricing every week, unless there is a major pricing change in a particular stock.

How Does GiveAShare Compare?

Stockpile works differently than GiveAShare. Instead of purchasing actual stock, you purchase gift cards that the recipient can redeem for shares of stock. And unlike GiveAShare, Stockpile is an actual self-directed, online brokerage.

As such, you can choose from thousands of stocks and exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and dozens of cryptocurrencies. While there are no fees, the recipient must open a Stockpile account and pay an ongoing $4.95 monthly account fee to keep the shares in their Stockpile account. This might turn some people off. 

Unique Stock Gifts offers a similar service to GiveAShare, in that they offer single shares of stock as a gift. Like GiveAShare, you have the ability to customize your order with premium frames and gift wrapping. You can also pay extra for rush shipping. Unique Stock Gifts offers over 190 stocks; however, watch the transfer fees, as they can vary widely depending on the stock you're purchasing.

How Do I Open An Account?

You can get started with GiveAShare by registering a new account on its website. From the homepage, select "Login", located near the top of the page. From there, select "Register New Account". You'll then be asked to provide your first and last name, email, telephone number, and create a password. 

Once your account has been activated, you can browse through GiveAShares stock list. Once you choose the stock you wish to gift, you can add it to your shopping cart. The checkout process is similar to any online store. 

Is It Safe And Secure?

Yes, GiveAShare is a safe company to deal with. It's been in business since 2002, and its store has earned 4.9 out of 5 stars on Google Reviews, and an A+ rating through the Better Business Bureau. It's important to note that GiveAShare is not an investment advisor or brokerage. It is simply an online retailer facilitating the purchase of shares. 

How Do I Contact GiveAShare?

You can contact GiveAShare through the contact form on its website, or by telephone at 1 (480)-621-6657. Business hours are as follows: June to August, Monday - Friday, 9AM to 3 PM (MST), and September to May, Monday - Friday, 9AM to 4PM (MST). The companies mailing address is 2537 E. Via Del Arboles
Gilbert AZ 85298.  

Is It Worth It?

GiveAShare may be the easiest way to offer the gift of a single stock to a child or adult family member or friend. It's a gift that offers the potential to grow in value over time. And there is no need to deal with the complexities of opening a brokerage account. 

However, remember that you are paying a significant premium over the actual market price of the stock share. This includes GiveAShares fee, their cost to legally register the stock, and other fees for shipping, preparing a duplicate certificate, and packaging the stock as a gift, e.g. frame, gift wrap, etc.

If this is the type of gift your recipient will cherish, then you'll likely feel that it's well worth the price. 

Check out GiveAShare here >>

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