Industries in the Securities, Commodity Contracts, and Other Financial Investments and Related Activities subsector group establishments that are primarily engaged in one of the following:
(1) underwriting securities issues and/or making markets for securities and commodities;
(2) acting as agents (i.e., brokers) between buyers and sellers of securities and commodities;
(3) providing securities and commodity exchange services; and
(4) providing other services, such as managing portfolios of assets; providing investment advice; and trust, fiduciary, and custody services.
5231 Securities and Commodity Contracts Intermediation
and Brokerage
This industry group comprises establishments primarily engaged in putting capital at risk in the
process of underwriting securities issues or in making markets for securities and commodities;
and those acting as agents and/or brokers between buyers and sellers of securities and
commodities, usually charging a commission.
52311 Investment Banking and Securities Dealing
See industry description for 523110 below.
523110 Investment Banking and Securities Dealing
This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in underwriting, originating, and/or
maintaining markets for issues of securities. Investment bankers act as principals (i.e.,
investors who buy or sell on their own account) in firm commitment transactions or act as agents
in best effort and standby commitments. This industry also includes establishments acting as
principals in buying or selling securities generally on a spread basis, such as securities
dealers or stock option dealers.
Illustrative Examples:
Bond dealing (i.e., acting as a principal in dealing securities to investors);
Stock option dealing; Securities underwriting.
Cross-References.
- Establishments primarily engaged in acting as agents (i.e., brokers) in buying or selling securities on a commission or transaction fee basis are classified in Industry 523120, Securities Brokerage; and
- Investment clubs or individual investors primarily engaged in buying or selling financial contracts (e.g., securities) on their own account are classified in Industry 523910, Miscellaneous Intermediation.
52312 Securities Brokerage
See industry description for 523120 below.
523120 Securities Brokerage
This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in acting as agents (i.e., brokers)
between buyers and sellers in buying or selling securities on a commission or transaction fee
basis.
Illustrative Examples:
Mutual fund agencies (i.e., brokerages); Stock brokerages; Securities brokerages.
Cross-References.
- Establishments primarily engaged in investment banking and securities dealing (i.e., buying or selling securities on their own account) are classified in Industry 523110, Investment Banking and Securities Dealing.
52313 Commodity Contracts Dealing
See industry description for 523130 below.
523130 Commodity Contracts Dealing
This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in acting as principals (i.e., investors
who buy or sell for their own account) in buying or selling spot or futures commodity contracts
or options, such as precious metals, foreign currency, oil, or agricultural products, generally
on a spread basis.
Cross-References. Establishments primarily engaged in
- Acting as agents (i.e., brokers) in buying or selling spot or future commodity contracts on a commission or transaction fee basis - classified in Industry 523140, Commodity Contracts Brokerage; and
- Buying and selling physical commodities for resale to other than the general public - classified in Sector 42, Wholesale Trade.
52314 Commodity Contracts Brokerage
See industry description for 523140 below.
523140 Commodity Contracts Brokerage
This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in acting as agents (i.e., brokers) in
buying or selling spot or future commodity contracts or options on a commission or transaction
fee basis.
Illustrative Examples:
Commodity contracts brokerages; Financial futures brokerages; Commodity futures brokerages.
Cross-References. Establishments primarily engaged in
- Acting as principals in buying or selling spot or futures commodity contracts generally on a spread basis - classified in Industry 523130, Commodity Contracts Dealing; and
- Buying and selling physical commodities for resale to other than the general public - classified in Sector 42, Wholesale Trade.
5232 Securities and Commodity Exchanges
52321 Securities and Commodity Exchanges
See industry description for 523210 below.
523210 Securities and Commodity Exchanges
This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in furnishing physical or electronic
marketplaces for the purpose of facilitating the buying and selling of stocks, stock options,
bonds, or commodity contracts.
Cross-References.
- Establishments primarily engaged in investment banking, and securities dealing, securities brokering commodity contracts dealing, or commodity contracts brokering are classified in Industry Group 5231, Securities and Commodity Contracts Intermediation and Brokerage.
5239 Other Financial Investment Activities
This industry group comprises establishments primarily engaged in one of the following:
(1) acting as principals in buying or selling financial contracts (except investment bankers, securities dealers, and commodity contracts dealers);
(2) acting as agents (i.e., brokers) (except securities brokerages and commodity contracts brokerages) in buying or selling financial contracts; or
(3) providing other investment services (except securities and commodity exchanges), such as portfolio management; investment advice; and trust, fiduciary, and custody services.52391 Miscellaneous Intermediation
See industry description for 523910 below.523910 Miscellaneous Intermediation
This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in acting as principals (except investment bankers, securities dealers, and commodity contracts dealers) in buying or selling of financial contracts generally on a spread basis. Principals are investors that buy or sell for their own account.Illustrative Examples:
Investment clubs; Tax liens dealing (i.e., acting as a principal in dealing tax liens to investors); Mineral royalties or leases dealing (i.e., acting as a principal in dealing royalties or leases to investors); Venture capital companies.Cross-References.
- Establishments primarily engaged in investment banking, securities dealing, securities brokering, commodity contracts dealing, or commodity contracts brokering are classified in Industry Group 5231, Securities and Commodity Contracts Intermediation and Brokerage.
52392 Portfolio Management
See industry description for 523920 below.523920 Portfolio Management
This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in managing the portfolio assets (i.e., funds) of others on a fee or commission basis. Establishments in this industry have the authority to make investment decisions, and they derive fees based on the size and/or overall performance of the portfolio.Illustrative Examples:
Managing trusts; Pension fund managing; Mutual fund managing; Portfolio fund managing.Cross-References.
- Establishments primarily engaged in investment banking and securities dealing, securities brokering, commodity contracts dealing, or commodity contracts brokering are classified in Industry Group 5231, Securities and Commodity Contracts Intermediation and Brokerage.
52393 Investment Advice
See industry description for 523930 below.523930 Investment Advice
This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in providing customized investment advice to clients on a fee basis, but do not have the authority to execute trades. Primary activities performed by establishments in this industry are providing financial planning advice and investment counseling to meet the goals and needs of specific clients.Illustrative Examples:
Financial investment advice services, customized, fees paid by client; Investment advisory services, customized, fees paid by client; Financial planning services, customized, fees paid by client.Learn more about being a Certified Financial Planner.
Cross-References.
- Establishments providing investment advice in conjunction with their primary activity, such as portfolio management, or the sale of stocks, bonds, annuities, and real estate, are classified according to their primary activity; and
- Establishments known as publishers providing generalized investment information to subscribers are classified in Subsector 511, Publishing Industries (except Internet) or Industry 519130, Internet Publishing and Broadcasting and Web Search Portals.
52399 All Other Financial Investment Activities
This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in acting as agents or brokers (except securities brokerages and commodity contracts brokerages) in buying and selling financial contracts providing financial investment activities (except securities and commodity exchanges, portfolio management, and investment advice).
Illustrative Examples:
Bank trust offices; Fiduciary agencies (except real estate); Escrow agencies (except real estate); Stock quotation services.Cross-References. Establishments primarily engaged in
- Investment banking and securities dealing, securities brokerage, commodity contracts dealing, or commodity contracts brokering - classified in Industry Group 5231, Securities and Commodity Contracts Intermediation and Brokerage;
- Acting as principals (except investment bankers, securities dealers, and commodity contracts dealers) in buying or selling financial contracts (except securities or commodity contracts) - classified in Industry 52391, Miscellaneous Intermediation;
- Furnishing physical or electronic marketplaces for the purpose of facilitating the buying and selling of securities and commodities - classified in Industry 52321, Securities and Commodity Exchanges;
- Managing the portfolio assets (i.e., funds) of others - classified in Industry 52392, Portfolio Management;
- Providing customized investment advice - classified in Industry 52393, Investment Advice;
- Awarding grants from trust funds - classified in Industry 81321, Grantmaking and Giving Services;
- Performing real estate escrow or real estate fiduciary activities - classified in Industry 53139, Other Activities Related to Real Estate; and
- Financial transactions processing, reserve, and clearinghouse activities - classified in Industry 52232, Financial Transactions Processing, Reserve, and Clearinghouse Activities.
523991 Trust, Fiduciary, and Custody Activities
This U.S. industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in providing trust, fiduciary, and custody services to others, as instructed, on a fee or contract basis, such as bank trust offices and escrow agencies (except real estate).Cross-References. Establishments primarily engaged in
- Managing the portfolio assets (i.e., funds) of others - classified in Industry 523920, Portfolio Management;
- Performing real estate escrow or real estate fiduciary activities - classified in Industry 531390, Other Activities Related to Real Estate; and
- Awarding grants from trust funds - classified in Industry 81321, Grantmaking and Giving Services.
523999 Miscellaneous Financial Investment Activities
This U.S. industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in acting as agents and/or brokers (except securities brokerages and commodity contracts brokerages) in buying or selling financial contracts and those providing financial investment services (except securities and commodity exchanges; portfolio management; investment advice; and trust, fiduciary, and custody services) on a fee or commission basis.Illustrative Examples:
Exchange clearinghouses, commodities or securities; Stock quotation services; Gas lease brokers' offices.Cross-References. Establishments primarily engaged in
- Investment banking and securities dealing, securities brokering, commodity contracts dealing, or commodity contracts brokering - classified in Industry Group 5231, Securities and Commodity Contracts Intermediation and Brokerage;
- Acting as principals (except investment bankers, securities dealers, and commodity contracts dealers) in buying or selling financial contracts - classified in Industry 523910, Miscellaneous Intermediation;
- Furnishing physical or electrical marketplaces for the purpose of facilitating the buying and selling of securities and commodities - classified in Industry 523210, Securities and Commodity Exchanges;
- Managing the portfolio assets (i.e., funds) of others - classified in Industry 523920, Portfolio Management;
- Providing customized investment advice - classified in Industry 523930, Investment Advice;
- Providing trust, fiduciary, and custody services to others - classified in U.S. Industry 523991, Trust, Fiduciary, and Custody Activities; and
- Financial transactions processing, reserve, and clearinghouse activities - classified in Industry 522320, Financial Transactions Processing, Reserve, and Clearinghouse Activities.
Information courtesy of the U.S. Census Bureau.
