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 Invest in Prison Stocks

Go to the Website for the New York Stock Exchange. You'll find much information about prison stocks. The information on the NYSE will tell you how the stocks are doing. The information will also provide you with some important information on particular stocks. The Website also provides you with a Website to each company. You'll find the NYSE Website itself in the Resources section.
Look at the market history of each prison stock in which you want to invest. Find out how the stocks have been closing. Look at the company's history to see if the stock does well during difficult economic times. Most importantly, see how often the stock price has risen and fallen over the past few years. You will get an idea of the ebbs and flows of a particular prison stock.
Set up a meeting with a professional stockbroker. This meeting will allow you to get answers to any questions you may have without any obligations to buy. Ask questions and find out anything you can about purchasing prison stocks, including when to buy and how many shares to purchase. Stockbrokers are a valuable source of information. Ask plenty of questions while you have their attention.
Search for an online brokerage account. This will allow you to invest in prison stocks on your own and maintain your own portfolio. Find an account with good terms. You'll want one with minimum and maximum trades that you can afford.
Choose a brokerage house and fund your account. You'll know how much prison stocks are per share because you've done your research. It's up to you to determine how much money to put into the account. Just keep in mind that you don't want to invest all of your money in one prison stock or in all prison stocks. Diversity is the key to survival when investing.
Look up the prison stocks you want to buy according to their symbol on the stock exchange. Buy low. When you monitor the prison stocks before purchasing, you'll have an idea when the time is right to invest.
Stay informed on major decisions regarding your prison stocks, including job cuts, decreased budgets and anything else that can affect the price of your investment. Read press releases. Stay on top of any new developments involving your prison stocks. You own a part of the company, and you have a right to know what's going on with your investment.