The stock market, or more broadly, the market for investments, is full of intermediaries. It is not a bad thing per se, as buying securities is a much more complex process than buying everyday products, like groceries. You cannot just go to the store, pick what you want, pay at the counter and be on your way. The value-added chain is longer, and hence you have to cover the costs of more elements than just the groceries costs, the cashier's salary, and the storeowner’s profit. Here’s broadly how this is organized.