(BPT) - Loyalty programs and perks are everywhere, but wouldn’t it be great if the companies and brands you invest in rewarded us as shareholders?
Thanks to the internet, it’s easier than ever to invest, and more and more people are jumping on the investment bandwagon with online investor assets growing more than $4 trillion in 2020 alone. If you’re like the one in three American consumers investing directly in stocks, you probably own shares in brands that make your favorite shoes, beloved car, beverage of choice or tech platform you can’t live without. You invest in what you know and love.
Today’s investors want their investments to reflect their personal interests, causes and passions. And stock ownership is not just a way to boost income and wealth — it’s a concrete way to show loyalty to a favorite brand. So why not get the perks of ownership — the shareholder discounts offered by that company or brand?
What are shareholder perks, and how can you get them?
Just as you can be rewarded for being a frequent flyer or shopper, you want stock perks to reward you for investing, such as discounts on products or services, or exclusive offers. In fact, according to an October 2020 Harris Poll, 77% of individual investors would be more likely to buy shares of a publicly traded company if they offered a shareholder perk. Unfortunately, the system is not always set up so companies know who their investors are, and investors don’t know how to find or access shareholder perks. So how can individual shareholders connect and engage with companies they love and invest in?
Enter TiiCKER, the first stock perks software platform and iOS app that lets you securely connect your brokerage accounts so you can discover shareholder perks you may qualify for, based on your linked portfolio, or buy shares in brands that offer perks thanks to their commission-free trading. You can search popular brands to find out if they are publicly traded and engage with companies and brands you love.
It’s easy to find any publicly traded company and your favorite brands. Simply type any ticker symbol or brand name in the search box. Alternatively, go directly to any publicly traded company page using a ticker symbol after TiiCKER.com. For example, www.TiiCKER.com/F for Ford Motor Company.
Who can invest?
Today’s investors are changing and becoming more diverse. For one thing, they’re skewing younger than you might expect.
A recent national survey of investors found plenty of surprises, such as the fact that more than half (54%) of people aged 18-34 and almost 60% of people ages 35-44 own individual stocks. And 43% of those who own stocks are women, the highest percentage in history. The survey, conducted online by TiiCKER in partnership with The Harris Poll, discovered that investing is no longer exclusive to older, affluent Americans. Of survey respondents with annual incomes of $75,000-$100,000, 58% were individual investors, while more than half (51%) of those earning between $50,000-$74,900 also owned individual stocks.
One unifying theme among these varied individual investors stood out: 3 out of 4 wanted to own shares of companies or brands they already loved — and they want to benefit from that brand ownership by getting perks. And the good news? The companies you own shares in want to reward you for your loyalty. This new platform makes it easy to discover shareholder perks you may qualify for based on your individual share ownership. Top brands and well-known companies like Disney, Carnival Cruises, Berkshire Hathaway, Amazon, Coca-Cola, American Airlines, P&G, Starbucks and Apple and many more can be found on the platform, along with engaging content and information to help guide your investment decisions.
"People literally use, wear and eat the brands on TiiCKER, and for most investors, their stock portfolio is a reflection of their interests and lifestyle," said TiiCKER founder Jeff Lambert. "We're here to help individuals discover and strengthen their connection to these brands, and to give public companies a way to connect with their shareholders, who are their most loyal consumers."
