Definition:

A financial intermediary is a company that acts as an intermediary between savers and borrowers, or between investors and corporations. Financial intermediaries provide a variety of services, including loan brokerage, investment banking, and wealth management.

Types of Financial Intermediaries:

• Banks: Institutions that provide loans to individuals and businesses, and also accept deposits.
• Savings and Loan Associations: Institutions that provide savings accounts and loans, typically to lower-income individuals.
• Credit Unions: Nonprofit organizations that provide financial services to their members.
• Investment Banks: Firms that help corporations raise capital by issuing securities.
• Broker-Dealers: Intermediaries who buy and sell securities for clients.
• Mutual Funds: Companies that pool money from investors and invest it in a variety of securities.
• Hedge Funds: Private investment funds that use various strategies to generate returns.

Functions of Financial Intermediaries:

• Matching savers and borrowers: Intermediaries help savers find borrowers who need their money and borrowers find lenders who are willing to provide loans.
• Providing credit: Intermediaries can provide credit reports and other information to help lenders assess the creditworthiness of borrowers.
• Managing risk: Intermediaries can help investors manage risk by diversifying their investments or providing advice on risk management strategies.
• Facilitating transactions: Intermediaries facilitate transactions between buyers and sellers or investors and corporations.
• Providing financial advice: Intermediaries can provide financial advice to clients on a variety of topics, such as investment planning, estate planning, and retirement planning.

Benefits of Using Financial Intermediaries:

• Access to a wider range of financial products: Intermediaries can provide access to a wider range of financial products than individuals can access on their own.
• Convenience: Intermediaries can provide a convenient way to manage your finances.
• Expertise: Intermediaries have expertise in a variety of financial areas, which can help you make informed investment decisions.
• Lower costs: Intermediaries can sometimes offer lower costs than individuals can achieve on their own.