While stock exchanges provide a number of services and functions within the financial world, their basic purpose can be summed up in two words: monitoring and marketplace. As a corporation looking to raise funds by going public, access to that marketplace is of the utmost importance.

Many individuals and companies seeking funding have a tendency to think of their issue in very self-centered terms. Some believe that once funding is obtained, the goal is accomplished and the importance of involvement with the stock exchange is minimal. If anything, though, the opposite is true. The importance of the stock exchange lies in the fact that it allows investors to maintain liquidity for their investment. When a stock is listed on a major exchange, it allows any shareholder to sell his or her shares almost instantly. In most cases, immediate small sales are available at or very near the quoted price per share.

Shares that aren