Final answer:
Individuals from firms can begin selling securities through an IPO. Financial investors, firms in the financial market, and mutual funds also sell securities, all under the regulation of bodies like the SEC.
Step-by-step explanation:
Individuals who want to begin selling securities must first understand that the securities market is highly regulated. Typically, individuals within a firm can begin selling their securities through an initial public offering (IPO), where a company sells its stocks to the public for the first time. This includes individuals, mutual funds, insurance companies, and pension funds. Once the firm's securities are publicly traded, financial investors can sell and resell stocks and bonds to one another. Furthermore, regulatory bodies like the Securities and Exchange Commission supervise the sale of securities to ensure legal standards for disclosure and fair trading practices.
Firms in the financial market, including banks, venture capitalists, and angel investors, also participate in selling securities. They provide the necessary capital to companies, thereby receiving securities that they can later sell. Moreover, mutual funds play a significant role in the financial market by combining the stocks and bonds of many different companies, providing diversified investment opportunities to individuals and institutions.