Agent

Real estate agents represent their clients to negotiate the terms of the buying and selling of a house. Stockbrokers are agents who represent their clients for the purchase and sale of stocks and investments.

Agents have specialized knowledge and negotiate deals on behalf of their clients, also called the principal, who feel like they need someone looking out for them. Some agents have a broader power of representation, such as having power of attorney. Other agents represent their clients for a specific reason, or for a single transaction. Basically, an agent is a third party who is somehow getting a piece of the money pie.