How to Find Out If a Stock Is Worthless (5 Steps)

Look for Form 1099-DIV to be mailed to you at the end of the year by the company. Companies send out these forms once they have liquidated their assets, which means that the stocks are worthless.
Contact the company to get proof that the stock is worthless if it did not liquidate its assets. A letter from the company saying that it has shut down will provide proof that you need to deduct money from your taxes.
Ask your stockbroker for information on whether the stock has been proven worthless, if you have been trading with a stockbroker. He can provide a letter saying that the company has closed its doors, which is proof to deduct money from your taxes for the worthless stock.
Hire a company that specializes in investigating stocks and securities to find out if your stocks have market value. These companies will charge you for the investigation, but provide an easy way to find proof that the stocks are worthless. These companies include Stock Research Services and Stock Search International.
Keep your certificates from worthless stocks, as they might have value for collectors in the future.

How to Obtain a Stock Certificate (3 Steps)

Ask your broker to get the stock certificate on your behalf. This is the easiest way to get a stock certificate. No matter what type of broker you have an account with--online broker or full-service broker--you can request a physical stock certificate at an additional fee. Check with your broker for details about the process as well as the fee you will have to pay.
Contact the company in which you own shares directly. If you purchased the shares directly from the company, then you can contact them for a physical stock certificate. If you cannot locate or contact the company directly, you may visit its state of incorporation for information.
Order the stock certificate through a transfer agent. Most companies that issue shares to the public have a transfer agent to handle the company's securities. You can find the name of the company's transfer agent in the company's annual report. You can visit the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to get the annual report of any company listed on the stock exchange.

How to Pull out of the Stock Market (5 Steps)

Place sell orders for all of your stocks and stock mutual funds. Sell your shares at market to get the fastest execution and current market price. If the markets are tanking on the day when you do this, place your orders immediately. If the market is rising that day, you might be wise to wait a little while to see if you can get a slightly higher price.
Contact your variable annuity or variable life insurance carrier and tell them to move all of your money out of any sub-accounts that invest in stocks. Move the money either into the fixed account, the money market fund or other sub-accounts that invest in bonds, real estate or other asset classes.
Place limit orders on your stock sales if you are not in an urgent hurry to get out of the market. If the stock has been vacillating in a price range for a while, place a limit order near the high end of the price range and wait for the stock price to rise to that level. This strategy can make a big difference in how much you end up with, particularly if you have a large number of shares to sell.
Wait until you have held your stocks for at least one year before selling if you are near that threshold already and aren't in a desperate hurry to sell. This is wise if your stocks have appreciated substantially, because you will pay a lower rate of tax on your gains if you have held your stocks for at least a year to the day before selling them.
Wait at least until the market rebounds somewhat if you are selling because the market dropped severely in a single day. The stock market is almost certain to take a dead cat bounce back up at some point, and waiting for this to happen can be a wise choice in many cases.