The regular brokers on the stock exchanges buy and sell, for a small commission, the regular bonds and investment stocks.
Several large statistical and financial expert agencies[5] in return for an annual subscription, offer advice to investors regarding general market conditions and special securities.
For a large number of investors the personal examination and selection of sound securities is too difficult a task.

To serve their needs many bonds and trust companies have of late developed special departments for investment banking.

Through these agencies the banks are constantly placing as relatively permanent investments securities which they have bought or have aided "to float" or which they handle only as commission agents.

In any case the real investment banker is bringing to his task special training and a high sense of his professional obligations, and is employing the services of statisticians, financial experts, and of practical engineers to determine exactly the fundamental conditions of each investment.
Investment banking promises to increase steadily in amount and importance.
Sec.5.

#Savings banks in the United States.# For the increasing number of wage-earners, salaried employees, and persons following professions, investment as active capitalists is impossible.[6] Their savings must take the form of passive investments.