SSA and STA
If the reader is involved with investor services at a U.S. public company, and is not a member of either the Shareholder Services Association or the Securities Transfer Association, we believe he or she should. The SSA keeps its members informed on how best to work with its stock transfer agent (TA), what challenges the company’s TA is facing and how they are being dealt with, what corporate peers are doing in this field, who the major supporting entities are in the industry (proxy solicitors, printers, abandoned property specialists, etc.), what government agencies like the SEC are doing and planning, and much more.
The STA is similar although focuses more on transfer agent needs and activities. That said, it allows plenty of participation by, and input from, corporate stock issuers as well. Indeed, many of its members historically served as their own transfer agent before outsourcing the function to firms like Computershare, EQ, Continental Stock Transfer and Broadridge.
SSA and STA membership costs are relatively modest, and come with robust educational and networking opportunities.